As election week gets under way, Ballarat residents have the option of voting early at a number of locations.
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According to the Australian Electoral Commissioner Tom Rogers, increasing numbers of Australians are voting early, which he says changes the traditional election day into an "election period".
Slightly less than a quarter of Australians chose to vote at a pre-poll station in 2016, compared to about 8 per cent in 2007.
The AEC does not have any specific estimates for pre-poll voting in 2019, but Mr Rogers said the growth in early voting as "quite remarkable".
"When someone pre-polls once we think they become a permanent pre-poll voter," he said.
"It's become a thing."
Officially, a valid reason is required for pre-polling - such as travel arrangements or work. However, Mr Rogers said there was little way for the AEC to confirm they are telling the truth.
"We ask people to self-declare. I can tell you that 99.99 per cent of Australians say, absolutely [I qualify to vote early]."
Anecdotal evidence suggested voters were casting their votes early as they found it more convenient, Mr Rogers said.
Here are the full details of the Ballarat venues. All of those listed below have assisted wheelchair access.
Ballarat Central
Where: 9 Grenville St N
Opening times
Monday, May 13 - Tuesday, May 14 (8:30 -17:30)
Wednesday, May 15 (8:30 -18:00)
Thursday, May 16 (8:30 -17:30)
Friday, May 17 (8:30 -18:00)
Sebastopol
Where: Phoenix College Tuppen Dr
Opening times
Monday, May 13 - Tuesday, May 14 (8:30 -17:30)
Wednesday, May 15 (8:30 -18:00)
Thursday, May 16 (8:30 -17:30)
Friday, May 17 (8:30 -18:00)
Wendouree
Where: Ballarat Show Grounds Cnr Howitt St and Creswick Rd
Opening times
Monday, May 13 - Tuesday, May 14 (8:30 -17:30)
Wednesday, May 15 (8:30 -18:00)
Thursday, May 16 (8:30 -17:30)
Friday, May 17 (8:30 -18:00)
There is also an early voting centre listed in Melton, just outside of the Ballarat electorate, but presumably for use by voters at the southern end of the electorate such as Bacchus Marsh.
Melton
Where: Melton Uniting Church Hall 17 Yuille St
Opening times
Monday, May 13 - Tuesday, May 14 (8:30 -17:30)
Wednesday, May 15 (8:30 -18:00)
Thursday, May 16 (8:30 -17:30)
Friday, May 17 (8:30 -18:00)
See the Courier's full Federal Election coverage here.
Federal Election 2019: Everything Ballarat voters need to know.
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