The pre-poll line at Tuggeranong at 10 am on Tuesday morning. Photo: Region.
More than 100,000 Canberrans have already voted in the federal election, a result of a larger-than-normal pre-polling turnout across the ACT.
Before pre-polling stations had opened Thursday morning (1 May), 88,791 ballots had already been cast in centres across the Territory.
That number is rising as lines of voters continue to grow outside the pre-polling centres.
Add to that figure 13,636 postal votes received in total from the three electorates of Bean, Canberra and Fenner.
Postal votes have now closed, but pre-polling continues.
The pre-polling figure, as of the close of polls on Wednesday, already stood at 110 per cent of the pre-poll count from the 2022 federal election.
Region asked a number of early voters their reasons for doing so and answers varied from “out of town on the day”, “working on the day”, “already made up my mind so why not” to “convenience”.
Pre-polling is intended solely for those who are unable to attend a polling booth on election day.
Australian Electoral Commission guidelines stipulate that if people can vote on election day, then that is what they need to do.
Only if they can’t vote on election day, then they may vote at pre-polling booths across the country until Friday, the Commission says.
Given past trends in early voting, the AEC has anticipated that about half of all voters will cast their votes during the early voting period, through a combination of in-person early voting, and mobile and postal voting.
But with 322,356 Canberrans registered to vote, crowds are still expected at polling booths across the Territory on polling day on Saturday.
The ACT has a 97.8 per cent enrolment rate of eligible voters.
About 12 million Australians across the country haven’t yet voted.
In light of those numbers, the Australian Electoral Commission has repeated its call for all campaigners to behave respectfully towards voters, one another and AEC staff.
Acting Electoral Commissioner Jeff Pope said that while the vast majority of interactions near a voting centre are cordial, isolated instances of aggression, intimidation and potential violence near pre-poll venues were not in keeping with Australian democratic values.
“We want voters to have a smooth and positive voting experience,” Mr Pope said.
“Australian federal elections are rightly a time of heightened passion, but they’re also famous and admired right across Australia and internationally for respectful behaviour and a festival-type environment.
“While there is a lot of media coverage of incidents occurring, reports of unsavoury behaviour are relatively limited.
“The AEC is not a police force and does not have jurisdiction to undertake conflict resolution or get in the middle of a dispute outside our polling places.
“However, we do have close relationships with local police forces around the country who are closely monitoring activities.
“In some areas, the AEC has written to candidates and branches of registered political parties to alert them to the reports being received and to remind everyone of the right for voters to have a comfortable voting experience.”
The AEC is hoping for respectful behaviour through the close of polls on Saturday.
“Campaigners and campaign activities are a very important part of the federal election process, but lawful activities are a must, and respectful behaviour is a firm expectation,” Mr Pope said.
“Everyone also needs to remember the people who staff AEC voting locations are everyday Australians – parents, grandparents and neighbours.
“They are giving their time to make a valuable contribution to the health of Australia’s democracy. Without them, we would not be able to deliver the election.”
