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Early voting has begun for the West Australian election

Rangi Hirini & Michael RamseyThe West Australian
Early voting has begun for the West Australian election, with more than a million voters - including Premier Mark McGowan - tipped to cast their ballots before polling day.
Camera IconEarly voting has begun for the West Australian election, with more than a million voters - including Premier Mark McGowan - tipped to cast their ballots before polling day. Credit: Rang Hirini

Early voting has begun for the West Australian election, with more than a million voters - including Premier Mark McGowan - tipped to cast their ballots before polling day.

About 70 early voting centres will open their doors from Wednesday ahead of the March 13 election, while postal ballots have also been distributed.

WA's Electoral Commission is encouraging West Australians to get in early as part of its COVID-19 risk management plan.

Voters will be required to sign in at polling places using either the SafeWA QR code system or a manual contact register.

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Early voters are required to sign in with the SafeWA app or sign a register.
Camera IconEarly voters are required to sign in with the SafeWA app or sign a register. Credit: Rangi Hirini/The West Australian

The Premier has confirmed he will buck tradition by casting his vote in the weeks prior to polling day.

"If people want to avoid the crowded environment on election day, I'd urge people to vote early, and that's what I intend on doing," he said on Tuesday.

The predicted surge in early voting almost certainly plays in the Labor government's favour given its huge lead in the polls.

Labor has so far run a relatively low-risk campaign but any slip-ups closer to polling day could help the Liberals to claw back some ground.

Dozens of people have already cast their vote at the Osborne Park early voting centre where Labor candidate Stuart Aubrey was putting up signs early this morning.

Labor candidate Stuart Aubrey- who is running for Scarbourgh- was out early this morning putting his own signs up at the Osborne Park early voting centre.
Camera IconLabor candidate Stuart Aubrey- who is running for Scarbourgh- was out early this morning putting his own signs up at the Osborne Park early voting centre. Credit: Rangi Hirini/The West Australian

Mr Aubrey’s a bookie favourite to win the Scarborough seat with one betting website having him on track to return the seat to Labor for the first time in more than 30 years.

The electrician and volunteer surf lifesaver said he’d been at the voting centre since 7.30am.

“I always have a hand in everything on the campaign I don’t expect volunteers to do everything for me,” he said.

“I'm grateful for the help and I've got a lot of it but I’m a hard working tradie so so I do it myself as well.”

Mr Aubrey began his campaign last year as a rank outsider against Mrs Harvey — the then-Liberal leader.

Signs at the Osborne Park early voting centre.
Camera IconSigns at the Osborne Park early voting centre. Credit: Rangi Hirini/The West Australian

A Newspoll published by The Weekend Australian showed Labor leading 68 to 32 per cent on a two-party preferred basis.

A similar result at the ballot box would reduce the Liberals to a handful of seats.

Opposition Leader Zak Kirkup holds his seat of Dawesville, an hour south of Perth, by just 0.8 per cent, making it the second-most marginal Liberal electorate.

The first-term MP has said he wouldn't have stood as leader if he didn't think his constituents would have his back.

More than 1.7 million West Australians are eligible to vote at this year's election, an almost eight per cent increase on the 2017 poll.

Early voting centres will stay open across the State until the eve of the Election on March 13.

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