A former Melbourne councillor accused of stealing and forging votes in a local election has been committed to stand trial.
Milad El-Halabi, 59, was elected to the northwest ward of the Moreland City Council - now Merri-bek City Council - in October 2020.
But police allege El-Halabi, his wife Dianna, 52, and daughter Tania, 26, stole, forged and interfered with postal ballots in the lead up to the election.
After a two-day committal hearing, Magistrate Stephen Ballek on Tuesday determined there was sufficient evidence for the case to go to trial.
The trio, who pleaded not guilty to charges, were released on bail ahead of a directions hearing in the County Court in Melbourne next month.
The court was told there were 83 suspicious ballots submitted to the Victorian Electoral Commission as part of the 2020 Moreland council election.
It's alleged the DNA of the three accused was found on some of the ballots.
There were also allegations a resident in the city's northwest ward saw a "male person" in a skirt door-knocking properties and checking mailboxes for voting packs in the lead up to the election.
When the resident confronted the man, he allegedly told her Milad had sent him.
A report to Crime Stoppers stated the man lived at a Glenroy address but Detective Leading Senior Constable Mark Homberg told the court police checks confirmed that resident was not involved.
There was also no evidence to support claims Milad El-Halabi offered residents $500 in exchange for their vote, the detective said.
The El-Halabis are not allowed to contact witnesses or leave the state or country while on bail.
