The Electoral Matters Committee plays an important role in keeping Victoria's democracy strong. This includes conducting inquiries like this one after each state election. These inquiries provide an opportunity for any member of the community, any candidate or any other stakeholder to share their experiences and to suggest improvements to the system. The inquiries provide an opportunity for scrutiny of the Victorian Electoral Commission and for regularly reviewing the appropriateness of electoral law.

In this inquiry, the Committee considered a wide range of topics. The Committee examined the changing levels of voter participation in Victoria, including the worrying drop in voter turnout and the growing levels of informal voting. The Committee looked at the selection and management of voting centres and some of the difficulties experienced by candidates and voters. The Committee reviewed the electoral commission’s reporting and identified areas where more transparency is required.