Posted 11/11/24  

2024 Macedon Ranges Shire Council Election:

Results, Vote Distribution & Statistics

Official Election Results

Summary of vote distribution and counting

Statistics (changes between 2020 and 2024)

Official Election Results :  Macedon Ranges Shire, 2024

in order of election      * elected on primary vote      N = new

Five brand new councillors are elected - Borthwick, Young, Scanlon (East), Joseph (South), Kendall (West).  Four of six sitting councillors who stood for re-election have been returned - Bonanno, Walker (South), Anderson, Pearce (West).  Six of nine councillors are women, the most ever.  All West ward councillors are women.  All East ward councillors are first-term.

Four of MRRA's top five candidate selections were elected (Borthwick, Scanlon, Joseph and Anderson). Three of the candidates MRRA said it would not vote were unsuccessful, however two others (Kendall, Pearce) were elected.

Five of the nine elected councillors (Young, Bonanno, Walker, Kendall and Pearce) were publicly supported by ex-councillor Roger Jukes and the new unknown group calling itself Macedon Ranges Progress, although some Jukes-supported candidates apparently claimed no affiliation with him or Macedon Ranges Progress.  However, on paper at least, there appears to be potential from the outset for a 5/4 split in chamber from those supported by Mr. Jukes and Macedon Ranges Progress group, both of which seem to have a primary focus on Kyneton. 

Residents will need to be alert for attempts to introduce and promote any/all commercial, development and tourism proposals (for example, reincarnation of failed proposals like commercialisation of Kyneton airfield, commercialisation and resort proposals in sensitive areas, resurrection of the $40 million Equine Centre , etc. etc. and new proposals of their ilk).  Residents should also stay across what Council funds in its budgets and its spending priorities, and whether money is directed more to the Kyneton area and away from the other parts of the Shire than it has been.  Particular attention should also be paid to the selection/s for Mayor.

While we all need to give councillors an opportunity to find their feet, this 2024 result - more so than the outcomes of the 2016 and 2020 elections - heightens the need for observation, vigilance and awareness about what council does, and what it spends our money on, over the next 4 years.   It could be a bumpy road, so strap in.  

MRRA Summary of Vote Distribution and Counting

Information is sourced from VEC 2024 and 2020 election result distribution sheets.  

pdf of MRRA Summary of Vote Distribution and Counting (this page) - All Wards

Note: Three candidates were elected on primary votes: Cassy Borthwick in East ward, Dominic Bonanno in South ward and Kate Kendall in West ward. The remaining successful candidates were elected through distribution of preferences.

East Ward 2024

Enrolment:  12,535  [12,211 in 2020]

Total Votes Counted / Voter Turnout: 10,719 (85.51% of the total enrolment)  [9,120 (78.06% of the total enrolment) in 2020] 

Formal Votes:  10,288  [9,826 in 2020]

Informal Votes:  431 / 4.02%  [340 / 3.34% in 2020]

Quota: 2,573 (the number of votes each candidate needed to be elected)  [2,457 in 2020]

East ward: Primary (First Preference) Votes (final) - by highest number

East ward:  MRRA Summary of distribution of primary votes and preferences (see also VEC official 2024 Excel distribution)

One candidate achieved a quota on primary votes, and this ELECTED BORTHWICK (2,837 votes - 264 more than (surplus to) the quota of 2,573).

• Borthwick's surplus (264 votes) was distributed, going to Scanlon (75 / 28.4%), Young (71 / 26.9%), Alderton (51 / 19.3%), Bleeck (24 / 9.1%), McKenzie (22 / 8.3%) and Neil (18 / 6.8%). 

At this point, with BORTHWICK elected, continuing candidates (votes held) were:  McKenzie (520);  Neil (1155);  Bleeck (1178);  Alderton (1196);  Scanlon (1533); Young (2130).   

As no candidate achieved a quota, McKenzie (520 votes) was excluded. 

• McKenzie's 498 primary votes went to Young (129 / 25.9%), Alderton (127 / 25.5%), Scanlon (107 / 21.5%), Bleeck (75 / 15.1%) and Neil (60 / 12.0%)

At this point, with BORTHWICK elected, continuing candidates (votes held) were:   Neil (1215);  Bleeck (1253);  Alderton (1323);  Scanlon (1640). Young (2259).

• The additional 22 votes McKenzie received from the distribution of Borthwick's surplus went to Alderton (7 / 31.8%), Scanlon (6 / 27.3%), Young (3 / 13.6%), Bleeck and Neil (2 each / 9.1% each).

At this point, with BORTHWICK elected, continuing candidates (votes held) were:   Neil (1217);  Bleeck (1255);  Alderton (1330);  Scanlon (1646);  Young (2262).

  As no candidate achieved a quota, Neil (1217 votes) was excluded. 

• Neil's 1137 primary votes went to Bleeck (321 / 28.2%), Scanlon (280 / 24.6%), Alderton (273 / 24.0%) and Young (263 / 23.1%). 

At this point, with BORTHWICK elected, continuing candidates (votes held) were: Bleeck (1576); Alderton (1603); Scanlon (1926); Young (2525).

• The additional 60 preferences Neil received from McKenzie went to Bleeck and Scanlon (23 each / 38.3% each), Young (9 / 15.0%) and Alderton (5 / 8.3%). 

At this point, with BORTHWICK elected, continuing candidates (votes held) were: Bleeck (1599); Alderton (1608); Scanlon (1949); Young (2534).

• The additional 20 votes Neil received from Borthwick's surplus and McKenzie went to Scanlon (7 / 35.0% ), Bleeck (6 / 30.0%) and Young and Alderton (3 each / 15.0% each). 

At this point, with BORTHWICK elected, continuing candidates (votes held) were: Bleeck (1605); Alderton (1611); Scanlon (1956); Young (2537).

 As no candidate achieved a quota, Bleeck (1605 votes) was excluded. 

• Bleeck's 1154 primary votes went to Scanlon (677 / 58.7%), Young (280 / 24.3%) and Alderton (197 / 17.1%). 

• This distribution ELECTED YOUNG (2817 votes, 244 votes more than (surplus to) the quota of 2573) and ELECTED SCANLON (2633 votes, 60 votes more than (surplus to) the quota of 2573). Counting stopped.  

• The remaining candidate, Alderton, finished with 1808 votes (1009 and 825 votes fewer than Young and Scanlon respectively).

South Ward 2024

Enrolment:  13,698  [13,048 in 2020]

Total Votes Counted / Voter Turnout: 11,620 (84.83% of the total enrolment)  [11,159 (85.52% of the total enrolment) in 2020]

Formal Votes:  11,278  [10,772 in 2020]

Informal Votes: 342 (2.94%)  [387 (3.47%) in 2020]

Quota: 2,820 (the number of votes needed to be elected)  [2,694 in 2020]

South ward: Primary (First Preference) Votes (final) - by highest number

South ward:  MRRA Summary of distribution of primary votes and preferences (see also VEC official 2024 Excel distribution)

One candidate achieved a quota on primary votes, and this ELECTED BONANNO (3084 votes - 264 more than (surplus to) the quota of 2820).

• Bonanno's surplus (264 votes) was distributed, going to Walker (131 / 49.6%), Joseph (46 / 17.4%), Guthrie (43 / 16.3%), and Letchford (41 / 15.5%).

At this point, with BONANNO elected, continuing candidates (votes held) were:  Letchford (1259), Guthrie (2211), Joseph (2407), and Walker (2578).  

As no candidate achieved a quota, Letchford (1259 votes) was excluded. 

• Letchford's 1218 primary votes went to Guthrie (513 / 42.1%), Joseph (362 /29.7%) and Walker (343 / 28.2%).

At this point, with BONANNO elected, continuing candidates (votes held) were:  Guthrie (2724), Joseph (2769) and Walker (2921).

• This distribution ELECTED WALKER (2921 votes, 101 more than (surplus to) the quota of 2820).

At this point, with BONANNO and WALKER elected, continuing candidates (votes held) were:  Guthrie (2724) and Joseph (2769).

• Letchford's 41 votes received from Bonanno's surplus were distributed and went to Guthrie (21 / 51.2%) and Joseph (20 / 48.8%).

At this point, with BONANNO and WALKER elected, continuing candidates (votes held) were:  Guthrie (2745) and Joseph (2789).

As no candidate achieved a quota, Walker's surplus was distributed. 

• Walker's 101 surplus votes went to Guthrie (34 / 33.7%) and Joseph (66 / 65.3%).

• This distribution ELECTED JOSEPH (2855 votes, 35 more than (surplus to) the quota  of 2820).  Counting stopped.

• The remaining candidate, Guthrie, finished with 2779 votes (76 votes fewer than Joseph).

West Ward 2024  

Enrolment:  12,936  [12,809 in 2020]

Total Votes Counted / Voter Turnout:  10,885 (84.15% of the total enrolment) [10,787 (84.21% of the total enrolment) in 2020]

Formal Votes: 10,450  [10,430  in 2020]

Informal Votes:  435 (4.00%)  [357  (3.31%) in 2020]

  Quota: 2,613 (the number of votes needed to be elected)  [2,608  in 2020]

West ward: Primary (First Preference) Votes (final) - by highest number

West ward:  MRRA Summary of distribution of primary votes and preferences (see also VEC official 2024 Excel distribution)

One candidate achieved a quota on primary votes, and this ELECTED KENDALL (4040 votes - 1427 more than (surplus to) the quota of 2613).

• Kendall's surplus (1427 votes) was distributed, going to Haintz (536 / 37.6%), Pearce (205 / 14.4%), Anderson (203 / 14.2%), Keats (196 / 13.7%), Hayman (131 / 9.2%), Templeton (119 / 8.3%) and Bakes (34 / 2.4%).

• This distribution moved Templeton ahead of Bakes, and Haintz ahead of Bakes and Hayman.

At this point, with KENDALL elected, continuing candidates (votes held) were:  Bakes (445); Templeton (509); Hayman (545); Haintz (943); Keats (1378); Pearce (1493); Anderson (2521).

As no candidate achieved a quota, Bakes (445 votes) was excluded. 

• Bakes' 411 primary votes went to Anderson (134 / 32.6%); Hayman (97 / 23.6%); Templeton (67 / 16.3%);  Pearce (52 / 12.6%);  Keats (34 / 8.3%); Haintz (27 / 6.6%).

At this point, with KENDALL elected, continuing candidates (votes held) were:  Templeton (576); Hayman (642); Haintz (970); Keats (1412); Pearce (1545); Anderson (2655).

• This distribution ELECTED ANDERSON (2655 votes, 42 votes more than (surplus to) the quota of 2613).

   

• Bakes' additional 34 votes from Kendall's surplus went to Templeton (8 / 23.5%); Hayman and Haintz (7 each / 20.6% each); Keats (6 / 17.6%);  Pearce (5 / 14.7%).

At this point, with KENDALL and ANDERSON elected, continuing candidates (votes held) were:  Templeton (584); Hayman (649); Haintz (977); Keats (1418); Pearce (1550).

As no candidate achieved a quota, Anderson's surplus was distributed. 

• Anderson's surplus (42 votes) went to Pearce (20 / 47.6%), Hayman (9 / 21.4%), Haintz (6 / 14.3%), Keats and Templeton (2 each / 4.8% each).

At this point, with KENDALL and ANDERSON elected, continuing candidates (votes held) were:  Templeton (586); Hayman (658); Haintz (983); Keats (1420); Pearce (1570).

As no candidate achieved a quota, Templeton (586 votes) was excluded. 

• Templeton's 390 primary votes went to Pearce (130 / 33.3%); Keats (105 / 26.9%); Haintz (100 / 25.6%); Hayman (55 / 14.1%).

At this point, with KENDALL and ANDERSON elected, continuing candidates (votes held) were:  Hayman (713); Haintz (1083); Keats (1525); Pearce (1700).

• The additional 67 preferences Templeton had received from Bakes went to Pearce (32 / 47.8%); Hayman (19 / 28.4%); Haintz (9 / 13.4%);  Keats (7 / 10.4%).

At this point, with KENDALL and ANDERSON elected, continuing candidates (votes held) were:  Hayman (732); Haintz (1092); Keats (1532); Pearce (1732).

• The additional 127 votes Templeton had received from Kendall's surplus went to Haintz (48 / 37.8%);  Pearce (37 / 29.1%); Keats (25 / 19.7%); Hayman (17 / 13.4%).

At this point, with KENDALL and ANDERSON elected, continuing candidates (votes held) were:  Hayman (749); Haintz (1140); Keats (1557); Pearce (1769).

• The additional 2 votes Templeton had received from Anderson's surplus went to Pearce (1 / 50.0%), and 1 vote exhausted (gain).

At this point, with KENDALL and ANDERSON elected, continuing candidates (votes held) were:  Hayman (749); Haintz (1140); Keats (1557); Pearce (1770).

As no candidate achieved a quota, Hayman (749 votes) was excluded. 

• Hayman's 414 primary votes went to Pearce (194 / 46.9%); Haintz (146 / 35.3%); Keats (74 / 17.9%).

At this point, with KENDALL and ANDERSON elected, continuing candidates (votes held) were:  Haintz (1286); Keats (1631); Pearce (1964).

• The additional 171 preferences Hayman had received from Bakes and Templeton went to Pearce (75 / 43.9%); Haintz (66 / 38.6%);  Keats (30 / 17.5%).

At this point, with KENDALL and ANDERSON elected, continuing candidates (votes held) were:  Haintz (1352); Keats (1661); Pearce (2039).

• The additional 155 votes Hayman had received from Kendall's surplus went to Haintz (72 / 46.5%); Pearce (58 / 37.4%);  Keats (24 / 15.5%).

At this point, with KENDALL and ANDERSON elected, continuing candidates (votes held) were:  Haintz (1424); Keats (1685); Pearce (2097).

• The additional 9 votes Hayman had received from Anderson's surplus went to Pearce (5 / 55.6%);  Haintz (4 / 44.4%); Keats (0 / 0.0%).

At this point, with KENDALL and ANDERSON elected, continuing candidates (votes held) were:  Haintz (1428); Keats (1685); Pearce (2102).

As no candidate achieved a quota, Haintz (1428 votes) was excluded.  

• Haintz's 407 primary votes went to Pearce (274 / 67.3%); Keats (133 / 32.7%).  

At this point, with KENDALL and ANDERSON elected, continuing candidates (votes held) were: Keats (1818); Pearce (2376).

• The additional 348 preferences Haintz had received from Bakes, Templeton and Hayman went to Pearce (229 / 65.8%); Keats (119 / 34.2%).

At this point, with KENDALL and ANDERSON elected, continuing candidates (votes held) were: Keats (1937); Pearce (2605).

• The additional 663 votes Haintz had received from Kendall's surplus and excluded candidates went to Pearce (488 / 73.6%); Keats (175 / 26.4%).

 

• This distribution ELECTED PEARCE (3093 votes, 480 votes more than (surplus to) the quota of 2613).   Counting stopped.

• The remaining candidate, Keats, finished with 2112 votes (981 votes fewer than Pearce).

Statistics: Changes Between 2020 and 2024

Smaller increases in enrolment and turnout than in previous elections (especially in West ward) possibly reflect changes to registration-to-vote requirements introduced for this election by the Local Government Act 2020 .