Voting has officially closed in the by‑election for Victoria’s seat of Nepean, setting the stage for an evening of results that could reshape the political landscape on the Mornington Peninsula. The contest was triggered by the resignation of former tennis star and Liberal MP Sam Groth, who stepped down in February during his first term in parliament.
Nepean, an affluent coastal electorate, has been a Liberal stronghold for nearly four decades, with Labor choosing not to field a candidate in this by‑election. Just over 50,000 voters are enrolled in the seat, and the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) confirmed that around half had already cast their ballots early through postal votes or pre‑poll centres.
Groth, who previously served as the Victorian Deputy Liberal Leader, resigned citing intense public pressure following a series of media reports about his personal life. He later sued the Herald Sun for defamation, with the matter settled out of court and the newspaper issuing an apology last November. He reclaimed Nepean for the Liberals in the 2022 state election with a margin of 6.4 per cent.
This time, Mornington Peninsula Mayor Anthony Marsh is seeking to return the seat to the Liberal Party, but faces competition from the Greens, One Nation and five independent candidates. With no major-party contest on the Labor side, the race has drawn attention for its unpredictable dynamics.
The VEC will release results progressively throughout the evening. Voters and candidates alike are watching closely as the count unfolds, with early figures expected to offer the first clues about the electorate’s mood though official results will only be confirmed once counting is complete.
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