The Electoral Commission of Queensland (ECQ) says vote-counting is continuing in the 2020 State General Election.
Electoral Commissioner, Pat Vidgen said there were more than 926,000 votes received on Election Day on Saturday to go with around 1.29 million early votes and more than 400,000 postal votes.
“The final turnout will be determined after the deadline for return of postal votes and scrutiny of declaration votes,” Mr Vidgen said.
He said after preliminary counting on Saturday when polls closed, the official count began on Sunday which included a recount of the preliminary votes and the beginning of the distribution of preferences.
Included in this was the secure transfer of votes that had been cast outside of the electors’ enrolled district, to the home district.
Mr Vidgen said the 2020 State General Election has been record-breaking on many levels.
“We’ve had 597 candidates, 12 political parties, 100 hours of early voting, and more early votes and postal votes than in any other Queensland election,” he said.
“The process of counting the votes will take time with many electorates having six or seven candidates on their ballot paper, and some with 10.”
He said postal votes would be received up to the deadline of 10 November.
“We understand everyone’s natural impatience for a result, but the counting process can’t be rushed,” the Commissioner said.
“It’s worth remembering that it took nearly two weeks to fully declare the 2017 State General Election, and ensuring the result is correct is more important than making it quick,” he said.
