The Australian Electoral Commission stipulates people cannot be candidates if they are under 18, not enrolled to vote, not an Australian citizen, if they hold an office of profit under the government or are in state parliament.

Political candidates also do not need to live in the electorate they are standing for at state elections in Victoria. Last year, Stawell resident Maurice Billi stood for the Wimmera state electorate of Lowan, though living beyond its boundaries. People who nominate independent candidates must live in the electorate.

To run for a Victorian council, a resident must be enrolled as a voter in that municipal district.

Liberal candidate Serge Petrovich lives in Portarlington, near Geelong, having been born in Myers Flat near Bendigo. The Greens' Nicole Rowan, though born in Woomelang, lives in the Macedon Ranges north of Melbourne.

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Hindmarsh Shire Councillor Rob Gersch, a former chairman of Rural Councils Victoria, said in a large rural electorate not living locally was a big issue.

"Mallee is a huge area very different to other parts of Victoria, and I think it would be hard for someone to understand the problems we're facing and the way rural people work," he said.

"Even with politicians who are from the area that have been around for quite a while - this is an issue with have at a state level too - there is a constant misunderstanding of rural conditions in metro areas."

Cr Gersch said he though Mallee voters were tolerant, but didn't expect them to support someone that didn't live in the area.

"We see it in metro areas sometimes, in safe seats, but I believe in that situation it's the party that wins the seat more than the individual," he said.

"There are also more similarities between neighboring seats in metro areas. But in Mallee alone you have broadacre farming, horticulture, irrigation, there are just so many different complex needs to understand. I find it very strange someone would put their hand up when they don't live in the area."

Catherine Morley, chief executive of the Wimmera Health Care Group, echoed Cr Gersch's concerns.

"I personally believe our community deserves a locally-based member. If they live outside the region it is going to be harder for them to be available for constituents across the Wimmera and the rest of the Mallee," she said.

"If they were successful, I'd hope they would be relocating to somewhere in the region. Just to get around the district and spend some time, you can't do it in a day."

Ms Morley said so far none of Mallee's candidates at this election had spoken to the organisation about health policy.

"They are always welcome to meet with the Wimmera-Southern Mallee Health Alliance leadership group about the health concerns of our constituents and support them with policy direction," she said.

"Particularly health is such a big issue at this election, and just generally in the Wimmera."

Greens candidate Nicole Rowan said she still knew the region well despite not living in it.

"Last year I was a state candidate for an upper-house seat Northern Victoria, and I spent a lot of time in the area then" she said. "I took a group of supporters on the Silo Art Trail, and we got to spend time with the farmers I went to school with, getting insights on the issues like how the sale of fodder works."

Liberal candidate Serge Petrovich said his regional upbringing meant he understood how country communities operated, and could learn about Mallee.

The Science Party's candidate Leigh Firman and Labor's Carole Hart are both from Maryborough, while Independent Jason Modica, Nationals candidate Anne Webster and Rise Up Australia's Phillip Mollison are all from Mildura.

Independents Cecilia Moar and Ray Kingston are from Horsham and Rupanyup respectively, while United Australia Party candidate Rick Millar lives in Balmoral.

Fraser Anning's Conservative National Party candidate Rick Grosvenor is from Mystic Park, Shooters Fishers and Farmers' Dan Straub from Tandarra and Citizens' Electoral Council candidate Chris Lahy from Lake Boga.

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