Start with the rules
Before anyone opens a design file, check the rules. In Victoria, electoral material generally has to carry an authorisation statement showing who authorised it, and councils and road authorities set their own rules about where signs can go, how big they can be and how long they can stay up. The Victorian Electoral Commission publishes current guidance for state and council elections, and the Australian Electoral Commission covers federal elections. If you're with a party, your campaign manager will usually know the details.
Victorian state elections are held on the last Saturday in November every four years, and the next one falls in November 2026. Council elections and by-elections follow their own timetables, so check the date that applies to you and plan backwards from it.
Rule of thumb: put the authorisation statement on the artwork from the first draft. It's far easier than squeezing it into a finished design at proof stage, and it means no board goes out without it.
Design a sign people can read from a moving car
Most people see an election corflute for a second or two, from a car, at a distance. The design has to work in that time.
Your name, big. It's the one thing a voter must take away.
One short line, such as the seat you're running for or a single message.
A photo, if you use one, cropped tight on your face so it reads at a distance.
Strong contrast. Dark on light or light on dark, never mid-tone on mid-tone.
Your campaign colours, used the same way on every board, flyer and post, so each one reminds people of the others.
Nothing small except the authorisation. Websites, slogans and policy points belong on your flyers.
Choosing the board
Corflute is the standard for election signs for good reasons. It's light, it stands up to rain, it's easy for volunteers to carry and fix to fences, and it's affordable in the numbers a campaign needs. Our guide to corflute signs covers the material in more detail.
Single or double-sided. Boards on roadsides and corners are seen from both directions, so double-sided is usually worth it. Boards flat against a fence or window only need one side.
Size. Choose from the sizes on the corflute signs page, and check them against any size limits in the rules for where the boards will go.
How they'll be fixed. Tell us if the boards go on wire stakes, so the flutes run the right way for the stakes to slide in.
Mistake to avoid: printing the date or "this Saturday" on your main boards. Keep the core design free of anything that expires, and it can go up early, stay up longer and come back out for a by-election or the next campaign.
How many, and where
Work out your locations before you settle on a number:
Supporters' fences and front yards, with their permission.
Your campaign office, shopfront or home base.
Community events and forums you're attending.
Any sites your party or campaign has arranged.
Voting centres have their own rules about signs and material nearby, so check the current guidance before election day. Order a few spares too. Boards get damaged, blown over or go missing, and a replacement is quicker from spares than from a fresh order in the final week.
The rest of the campaign kit
Corflutes do the reminding. Other print does the explaining.
Flyers and pamphlets for letterbox drops and street stalls.
Posters for shop windows and community noticeboards, with permission.
Magnetic car signs for the candidate's car and volunteers' cars, removable when the campaign is over.
Custom flags and pull up banners for street stalls, launches and forums.
Matching tees and polos so volunteers are easy to spot.
How-to-vote cards have their own rules at state elections, so check the Victorian Electoral Commission's requirements before you print them.
Timing
Leave time for each step, because the last fortnight of a campaign is always busier than planned.
Settle the candidate photo, the authorisation wording and the campaign colours first.
Allow for a round or two of proof changes. Every board is checked and proofed before it's made.
Order the main run early, and keep a smaller top-up order for the final weeks.
Each product page shows an estimated turnaround. Treat it as an estimate and build in a buffer.
After the election
Take the signs down promptly. Councils often set a deadline for removing election signs, so check yours.
Collect boards from supporters and thank them while you're there.
Store undamaged boards flat and dry if the design can be used again.
Corflute is a plastic (polypropylene), so ask your council about recycling options for boards you won't reuse.
Common questions
Do election signs need an authorisation statement?
In Victoria, electoral material generally needs one showing who authorised it. Check the Victorian Electoral Commission's current guidance, or the Australian Electoral Commission's for federal elections, before you finalise the artwork.
Single or double-sided corflutes?
Double-sided for roadsides, corners and anywhere people approach from both directions. Single-sided for boards fixed flat against a fence, wall or window.
Can I reuse election corflutes?
Yes, if the design doesn't include a date or anything specific to one election. Store them flat and dry between campaigns.
Ready to order? Corflute signs are priced live on the product page. Choose your size, sides and quantity, upload your artwork or have our team design it, and approve the proof before anything is made.
