Early voting opens

PEOPLE unable to attend a polling place on election day can now cast their vote at one of more than 500 early voting centres, which began opening on Monday, April 29.

The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) said with a record enrolment rate of 96.8 per cent it is important that all Australians enrolled now think about how and when they will cast their vote, whether it is on May 18 or at some point before then.

“We have the most complete electoral roll since federation and we’re providing a broad range of voting services but it is up to enrolled Australians to turnout to make sure they have their say,” Electoral Commissioner Tom Rogers said.

“We moved swiftly on Wednesday evening to design, verify and then print ballot papers in time for voters to access early voting centres from Monday.

“We’re in the process of printing a total of about 52 million ballot papers and this also kickstarts the distribution of postal votes for people who have applied.”

In the Geelong region, early votes can be cast at:
• The retail shopfront at 14/41-57 Bristol Road, Torquay (the Torquay Village Shopping Centre)
• The old GMHBA building at 178 High Street, Belmont
• The Focus Five building at 23-31 Gheringhap Street, Geelong, and
• The Freemasons Cosmopolitan Lodge, 60 Learmonth Street, Queenscliff.

Local interest in pre-polling varied on Monday – waiting times in Belmont stretched to at least 40 minutes at one point, but there was no wait whatsoever for early voters in Torquay.

More and more Australians are choosing to cast their vote early, with the figures rising from 8 per cent in 2007 to 23 per cent in 2016.

Postal vote applications can still be submitted by those who need one online at aec.gov.au/pva.

It is important for voters to apply early for a postal vote so that there is enough time to receive ballot papers in the mail, and then complete and return them to the AEC.

For more information, head to aec.gov.au.