Media release – Tasmanian Electoral Commission, 22 March 2024

Polling day tomorrow

As polling day nears, almost 90,000 Tasmanians have cast their vote early, either at a pre-poll center, by postal vote or by phone.

Pre-poll centers have been busy, receiving 66,352 votes (by 5:30 pm yesterday). The total is likely to exceed the 69,664 pre-poll votes cast in 2021. A breakdown of the 2024 figures for each division is as follows:

  • Bass: 12,657
  • Braddon: 16,536
  • Clark: 11,972
  • Franklin: 13,628
  • Lyons: 11,559

People can continue to vote early at one of 14 pre-poll centers until 6 pm this evening.

Vote anywhere on polling day

Electors can cast their vote tomorrow between 8 am and 6 pm, at any one of the 255 polling places across Tasmania.

There are no special processes required for electors who vote outside of their division.

Polling place locations will be published in the three daily papers on Saturday, and they are available via the TEC’s election webpage, tec.tas.gov.au/state24.

Tally room

The Tasmanian Electoral Commission will once again host a tally room on polling night, in the Federation Ballroom at the Hotel Grand Chancellor, Hobart.

This event is open to the public, doors open at 6 pm. It is anticipated that the first results from polling places will be available from around 6:45 pm, which will also be published on the TEC website.

Counting on election night

It is expected that counting will take longer for this election. This is due to an increase in the number of candidates and the number of columns on ballot papers, as well as the new requirement for every ballot paper to have at least seven preferences marked, compared to five in 2021.

Once the poll closes at 6 pm, all polling places will count their home division votes and return figures to the TEC for release on the website and in the tally room.

Regarding early votes, the Commission is aiming to count almost all postal votes already received, and all pre-poll votes, by Saturday night. Due to the largely increased early voting numbers, and the longer checking time, any of these early votes that can’t be counted on Saturday night will be completed on Sunday.

It is expected that the tally room will close at around 11 pm. Results from some of the larger polling places may not be available by that time.

By the end of Saturday night, there may be 10 to 15 candidates who appear to have a strong chance to be elected in their division. However, the last one or two seats in each division are likely to be unknown until the Hare-Clark count has concluded.

The Hare-Clark count

Under the Electoral Act 2004 there is a 10-day period (concluding at 10 am, Tuesday 2 April) for postal votes to be returned for inclusion in the count. During this period, the Commission undertakes several post-polling-day processes that are critical to the accuracy of the Hare-Clark count.

An update of candidate first-preference figures will next be published on our website on Thursday evening, as additional votes are added. These additional votes will include provisional, interstate, and out-of-division votes.

Due to the increase in candidates and new formality requirements, as well as the Easter period falling within this time, the commencement of the Hare-Clark count (distribution of preferences) may be slightly delayed. The Commission is not intending to work on Good Friday, Easter Saturday or Easter Sunday. Work will recommence on Easter Monday, with the aim of the Hare-Clark count commencing on Tuesday afternoon. However, this cannot be ensured given these additional factors at this election.

The Hare-Clark count usually takes three to four days. Due to the increased number of candidates and the need to elect seven rather than five candidates, it is expected that this will add at least one day to the Hare-Clark process. Therefore, final outcomes and results may not be known until the week commencing Monday 8 April.