October 25th 2024.
Today is an important day for the Sunshine State, as the polls are now open for the Queensland election. After four weeks of intense campaigning, both leaders have one final task to complete before the votes are tallied: casting their own vote. It has been a whirlwind of handshakes, lively debate, and photo opportunities with babies and drinks in hand. Now, it is time for Steven Miles and David Crisafulli to sit back and anxiously await the results of their hard work.
As a Queenslander, your opinion matters and you have the opportunity to have your say in this election. The race has been closely followed by successive polls, which have indicated a potential victory for the LNP. However, in the final week of the campaign, there has been a noticeable shift in the polls, with Steven Miles gaining popularity and narrowing the gap with David Crisafulli. This has added a level of excitement and uncertainty to the election, making it an even more crucial event for the state.
The current Labor government has been in power for almost a decade, since the election of former premier Annastacia Palaszczuk in 2015. This ended the one-term LNP government led by Campbell Newman. In order to form a majority government, either party will need to win a minimum of 47 seats. Currently, Labor holds 51 seats and the LNP holds 35, but there are other players in the mix as well.
Katter's Australian Party holds four seats in the state's north and is hoping to gain more. The Greens currently hold two seats in inner-city Brisbane, but are looking to expand their reach into the outer-fringe. The only independent Queensland MP is Noosa MP Sandy Bolton, who is also vying for re-election in this election.
If you're wondering how to keep up with all the action, you can tune in to Channel 9 in Queensland or 9Now at 5pm AEST tonight for live coverage of Queensland Decides. Andrew Lofthouse and Melissa Downes will be joined by a panel of experts, including Nine's political editor Charles Croucher and Queensland state political editor Tim Arvier, former Labor MP Kate Jones, Health Minister Shannon Fentiman, former LNP leader Deb Frecklington, and shadow sport minister Tim Mander. For those who prefer to stay updated online, you can follow live updates on 9news.com.au via our blog, which will go live later today.
The polls will close at 6pm AEST and counting will begin. Official results can take up to 10 days to be announced, as postal votes must be returned and tallied. However, experts usually make a call on the night of the election based on early results. Once the winner is declared, the losing party leader will typically call their rival to concede and both will give televised speeches. Nine's coverage will continue both on-air and online until both leaders have spoken.
For eligible citizens aged 18 or older, voting is compulsory in the Queensland election. Polling booths are open from 8am to 6pm today and there is no need to bring identification. It is important to note that Queensland has compulsory preferential voting, meaning that you must number all boxes in order of your preference for your vote to be counted. While volunteers representing political parties may hand out "how to vote" cards, you are not obligated to follow them and can vote for whomever you choose.
If you are unsure of where to vote, polling places are usually located at local schools, churches, and community halls. You can find your nearest polling booth by following the link provided. Unfortunately, postal voting applications have now closed. If you have received a postal vote, it must be returned to the Electoral Commission by 6pm on Tuesday, November 5.
It is important to remember that if you do not vote, you may receive a failure to vote notice. If you are unable to provide proof of voting or a valid reason for not voting, you may receive a fine. The current penalty for not voting in Queensland is $161.30. Stay connected with us on WhatsApp to stay updated on all the latest breaking news, celebrity updates, and sports news. No comments, no algorithms, and your private details are safe with us. Thank you for exercising your right to vote and making your voice heard in this important election.
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