Latest news with #AusElectoralCom
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Liberals win close seat as ousted MP hints at comeback
Liberal Tim Wilson has won a hard-fought election battle against teal independent Zoe Daniel, with the defeated MP hinting at a potential rematch. The former member for Goldstein won back the seat in Melbourne's bayside with a final margin of 175 votes following a partial recount of ballots, the Australian Electoral Commission announced on Saturday. The Australian Electoral Commission has today finalised the partial recount conducted in the electoral division of Goldstein. — AEC ✏️ (@AusElectoralCom) May 31, 2025 Mr Wilson took to social media to thank all Goldstein voters, including those who made efforts to vote overseas. "After 29 days of counting, I understand the final recount margin in Goldstein is 177, with 50,232 Liberal primaries which is 14,697 more than the former MP," he said on X. "Now the recount is finished, the result is clear, it is time to get on with the job and take the voice and values of Goldstein to shape the future of Australia: and that's precisely what I will do every day in service." After 29 days of counting, I understand the final recount margin in Goldstein is 177, with 50,232 Liberal primaries which is 14,697 more than the former MP. I want to thank all Goldstein voters, but particularly the extraordinary effort some went to so their voice was heard. — Tim Wilson (@tw4goldstein) May 31, 2025 Ms Daniel has called Mr Wilson to congratulate him on his win and offered commiserations to her volunteers and supporters. "Goldstein is now a vastly different seat to the one he once sat in - about as marginal as it gets - and with that comes embedded accountability," she said. "Changing systems of power is hard. Two steps forward is sometimes followed by one back. "It's a resilience test, and it's a reason to get back up and keep fighting." It's been a long process, and after a recount of about 75% of the votes cast, there were only a few votes in we did not win. But we are not defeated. Hard things are hard, and a better kind of politics is worth fighting you in 2028? Maybe!Link to video… — Zoe Daniel MP (she/her) (@zdaniel) May 31, 2025 The defeated first-term MP praised her team's integrity and humanity, saying they did not seek to "divide" or resort to "attack advertising, misinformation, disinformation, dirty tricks or personal attacks". Ms Daniel ended her post on X with: "See you in 2028? Maybe!" The AEC conducted a partial recount at the request of Ms Daniel after the final count had Mr Wilson 260 votes ahead. The change in margin was attributed to scrutineers challenging the formality of some ballots and a data entry error that was picked up in the recount. "The partial recount has been a methodical and highly transparent process with all counting activities throughout the entire counting period occurring in front of candidate-appointed scrutineers," the commission said Mr Wilson, who lost to Ms Daniel in the 2022 election, is the only Liberal candidate to gain a seat at the election, where the coalition suffered its worst result in 80 years, securing about 43 seats in the House of Representatives. A recount continues in the northern Sydney electorate of Bradfield, where Liberal candidate Gisele Kapterian is narrowly ahead of independent Nicolette Boele.
Sky News AU
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Australian Electoral Commission says around 524k ballots cast on first day of early voting for 2025 Federal Election
Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton are under added pressure to deliver their election messages clearly and concisely for the remainder of the campaign, as shock data revealed the staggering number of ballots already cast across the country on day one of early voting. Voters have turned out in their hundreds of thousands on the first day of early voting to cast their ballot to decide theirs MPs and who should be the next Australian leader. The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) confirmed around 542,000 people cast their vote on Tuesday morning when voting centres opened their doors for pre-polling. It eclipses the 2022 election where 314,000 voted on day one. — AEC âœï¸ (@AusElectoralCom) April 22, 2025 The AEC also confirmed it had sent out about 2.2 million postal votes. Another 19,000 ballots were cast with mobile teams for voters such as the elderly, people in hospital and those who are homeless. Some 2.39 million voters have also applied for a postal vote, with those who are unable to attend voting centres on Saturday May 3 encouraged to register this week. "While the number of ppl (people) who voted yesterday is higher than day 1 in 2022, pre-polling started later this election. The figures could reflect a short 1st week & may flatten out. It's reasonable to expect around 1/2 of all voters will have voted before election day (early + postal)," a spokesperson for the commission wrote to X on Wednesday. Breaking down the figures, New South Wales was at the top of the list with around 166,600 early votes followed by Victoria (143,200) and Queensland (117,600). There were long queues at some pre-polling centres in the major capitals. Some elderly residents who could not stand for long had to leave. Early voting in person or by post is eligible for a number of reasons including work, if you are travelling or out of the country, ill or due to give birth, if you have disability, more than eight kilometres from polling place or fear for safety or wellbeing. Voting centres will be closed for Anzac Day on Friday and Sunday April 27. They will be mostly open on Saturday. The staggering pre-polling figures means it is vitally important Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton concisely deliver their election pitches and messages this week as the early voting numbers will continue to rise until May 3. Mr Albanese has campaigned fiercely on boosting Medicare, five per cent deposit for all first home buyers, tax cuts and ban on supermarket gouging. Mr Dutton has pushed hard on the halving of the fuel excise, 500,000 new affordable homes, cheaper energy, cutting wasteful spending and backing small businesses. The Labor and Liberal leader will face off in one final debate on Channel 7 on Sunday in a bid to convince voters why their vision is best for the country and struggling families. For more information go to
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'No time to waste' for those requiring a postal vote
Australians who can't cast their ballots on election day have been urged to organise a postal vote, as the number of people enrolled to vote reaches a record high. The countdown to the May 3 federal election has begun and Australians are racing to ensure their voices are heard. More than 200,000 have enrolled or updated their details in the six days since the election was announced. The total number of people enrolled has hit a new high of 18 million, or 98 per cent of eligible Australians, according to the Australian Electoral Commission. Australia - you're on track for yet another enrolment record! 200,000 people have submitted an enrolment transaction since the election was announced. If you've turned 18, moved recently or are just not sure if you're enrolled, go to now! — AEC ✏️ (@AusElectoralCom) April 2, 2025 While the commission prefers Australians vote in person, those who can't make it to an early voting centre or polling booth on the day need to apply for a postal vote as soon as possible, or risk missing out. "If you need a postal vote, there's no time to waste," acting electoral commissioner Jeff Pope said. "The best time to apply was yesterday, the second-best time to apply is right now." The deadline to apply is April 30, but any application after April 24 could result in the late arrival of a postal vote pack. "When we're not given sufficient time, we can't always guarantee delivery prior to election day," Mr Pope said. These ballots must then be completed on or before election day and returned to the commission before May 16, otherwise the vote may not be included. Voters in rural and regional areas in particular have been encouraged to lodge their postal votes early. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Australians have increasingly cast their ballots through the mail, with 2.3 million postal votes lodged at the 2022 election - hundreds of thousands more than the 2019 contest. Voters can apply for a postal vote at the Australian Electoral Commission's website and the deadline for enrolments closes at 8pm (AEST) on Monday.
