Media Release 2009: Getting the results of the Higgins by-election

3 December 2009

Timely and comprehensive election results for the Higgins by-election will be available from 6pm on election night via the Virtual Tally Room (VTR) on the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) website.

Results will be available after 6pm on election night, Saturday 5 December and updates will take place throughout the night. The VTR for the Higgins by-election will operate until all results are finalised.

What results are available on election night?

The majority of electors cast an "ordinary" vote – that is a vote cast on election day at a polling place within the electorate for which the elector is enrolled.

On election night only ordinary votes are counted and the results will be available as first preferences and as a two-candidate-preferred (TCP) count on the VTR.

What results are available after election day?

There are a number of electors who cast what is known as a declaration vote and these are counted after election night. They consist of the following types of votes at by-elections:

• Postal vote – a vote cast by mail before election day by an elector – an elector needs to apply for a postal vote on a postal vote application form
• Early vote – a vote cast in person before election day at AEC divisional offices or early voting centres
• Provisional vote – a vote cast on election day by an elector who believes he or she should be on the roll but whose name could not be found on the roll in the polling place.

A fresh count of ordinary votes is also done in the week following the by-election to ensure accuracy of the election night count.

The counting of postal votes is an ongoing process as legislation requires that the AEC wait for up to 13 days after election day for postal votes. Postal votes are counted if they are postmarked before 6pm on election day and are received within 13 days of election day.

For more information on enrolment or the by-election visit our website or call the AEC on 13 23 26.

Media contacts

Steve Kennedy
Director Operations, Victorian State Office
Australian Electoral Commission
03 9285 7105
0413 271 211