A man who does not vote could soon lose his democratically-elected position.

Eighty-year-old Ben Buckley from Benambra, north of Omeo, won the most votes in last month's East Gippsland local government election and has been sworn in as councillor.

But Cr Buckley has refused to sign a code of conduct introduced for all Victorian councillors last year.

Buckley – a Liberal Democrat - is well known for his conscientious objection to voting, and claims to never have lodged a vote, even for himself.

The East Gippsland Shire Council has threatened to sack Mr Buckley for his refusal to sign the code of conduct, and he says he has been barred from taking part in any council activities until he complies.

The requirement to sign the new codes of conduct was part of new laws passed by the State Parliament in October 2015 to improve council governance, reduce councillor misconduct and empower councils to discipline councillors.

Mr Buckley has three main reasons for objecting to the code.

He says East Gippsland Shire Council's code of conduct is “over the top”, at twice the size of most other councils.

“Under this code, we are obliged to obey all relevant local, state and federal laws and if I abstain from voting, I'd be liable for an offence,” he said.

Mr Buckley also said the code of conduct promoted secrecy.

“There are contradictory clauses in it,” he said.

The requirement for new codes of conduct was part of a suite of laws passed by the State Parliament in October 2015 to strengthen council governance, reduce councillor misconduct and give councils more power to discipline individual councillors.

Local Government Victoria says it expects Cr Buckley’s position on council would become vacant if he does not sign the code of conduct within a few months.