Ballarat residents are taking advantage of a change in law which allows early voting question free, with more than a 100 per cent increase on day one of pre-polling throughout the region.
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The three electorates in Ballarat - Buninyong, Ripon and Wendouree – combined, saw more than 2000 voters take advantage of the early polling on day one, with more than half voting at the La Trobe centre which is operating as the only pre-poll booth in Wendouree.
Wendouree saw 1128 voters on day one, Buninyong 733 and Ripon 484, all enormous increases from 2014.
For Ripon voters in Ballarat, the opportunity also exists to vote absentee at either of the two Ballarat sites with the only dedicated voting centre for the district in Stawell.
A Victorian Electoral Commission spokesman said the trend was to vote early with more than 50 per cent of votes expected to be cast before election day.
“Previously in early voting, you needed to provide a reason as to why you were unable to vote on the day,” he said.
“But the law was changed in July this year which meant you no longer need to give an explanation.”
Who holds the power in Victoria? See here.
The spokesman said all pre-poll votes would be counted once voting closes at 6pm on election night, November 24.
He said it is expected that between 75 and 80 per cent of votes would be counted on the night with postal votes taking a little longer which could delay results in marginal seats, provided there is not a large swing against a political party.
Across the state, a record 75,456 early votes were cast on the first day, more than double the 30,287 votes cast on day one in 2014.
Ballarat’s pre-polling venues are at 607 La Trobe Street Redan and at 1/404 Lal Lal Street Canadian.
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