Early voting numbers ahead of Tasmania’s state election have more than doubled compared to last year.
Almost 54,000 Tasmanians have already cast their votes ahead of polling day on July 19.
The surge in early voting comes as voters make the most of pre-poll options during the school holidays, with more than 38,000 people visiting pre-poll centres by the end of Thursday.
Braddon leads the early voting count so far, with 9,422 votes cast, followed by Clark with 8,736.
So far, 7,170 votes have been cast in Franklin, 6,977 in Lyons and 6,323 in Bass.
Applications for postal voting closed yesterday, with more than 30,000 ballot packs already mailed to voters who can’t make it to a polling place.
The Tasmanian Electoral Commission says extra pre-poll centres will open from Monday, bringing the total to fifteen locations across the state for those unable to vote on election day.
They are at memorial halls in George Town, Granton, New Norfolk, Queenstown and St Helens, plus Bellerive Oval and the Mechanics’ Institute Hall in Scottsdale.
Voters heading to polling booths next weekend will have 256 polling places to choose from across Tasmania, although the TEC warns some venues may have changed since previous elections.
“Electors may find their local venue has changed and are encouraged to check the website for their nearest polling place,” the TEC said.
