Where and how to vote early for the Voice on the Sunshine Coast

Early voting has opened for the Voice in Queensland for eligible voters. Find out here if you are eligible to vote early and where you can do so on the Sunshine Coast.

The polling booth at the Millwell Road Community Centre. Picture: Iwan Jones

Eligible early voters have flocked to polling booths on the Sunshine Coast to have their say on the Voice referendum.

Several booths have opened across the region, where tensions were scarce on Monday.

A volunteer at the Maroochydore polling booth at the Millwell Road Community Centre described the day as busy.

“We had a line-up of about 50 people at 8am before the doors opened,” they said.

“The booth has been quite busy, it has been very well patronised.

“There has been a lot of enthusiasm, it has been a great display of democracy, as people came in to place their vote, either yes or no.

“As for the campaign volunteers at our booth, the yes and no teams have been working well together, it has been a very positive booth.”

Twin Waters resident Frank Bacskai embraced the opportunity to vote early.

“I will be travelling, so it is great being able to come in early and vote,” Mr Bacskai said.

Twin Waters resident Frank Bacskai. Picture: Iwan Jones

A Hungarian immigrant, Mr Bacskai described it as a very important vote.

“It is very important, I voted yes because I came here as a refugee, I found this lovely place and I think it’s the least I can do for the original First Nation people to vote yes in the referendum.”

Maroochydore resident Ken Basnett voted early, as he will be with his wife in hospital on polling day.

“It looks like my wife could be in hospital on polling day, so we came in early,” Mr Basnett said.

“It was great and very easy to do so.”

Maroochydore local Ken Basnett. Picture: Iwan Jones

Mr Basnett described the referendum as a decisive topic.

“It’s divisionary, I voted no, I wanted to vote yes, I can’t see what a Voice would change,” he added.

“When it comes down to the black and white, it’s not clear what we’re voting on.

“If it was clear what we’re voting on, maybe I would have considered voting differently.”

It is proposed that the independent and permanent advisory body would provide advice to the Federal Government on matters that affect the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Here is where you can vote early, if eligible, on the Sunshine Coast:

• Baringa – Baringa Community Centre, 20 Edwards Tce (Fisher)
• Beerwah – Beerwah Community Hall, 25 Peachester Rd (Fisher)
• Buddina – Kawana Tennis Club, 2 Nanyima St (Fairfax/Fisher)
• Buderim – Buderim Uniting Church, 2-10 Gloucester Rd (Fairfax/Fisher)
• Buderim – Sunshine Coast Hockey Association, 4/176 Ballinger Rd (Fairfax/Fisher)
• Caloundra – Caloundra Cricket, 2-14 Lewis St (Fisher)
• Coolum Beach – Coolum – Peregian RSL Sub Branch, 1906 David Low Way (Fairfax/Wide Bay)
• Maleny – Maleny Community Centre, 23 Maple St (Fisher)
• Maroochydore – Millwell Road Community Centre, 11 Millwell Rd E (Fairfax/Fisher)
• Nambour – 81-87 Currie Street (Fairfax/Fisher)
• Noosaville – Noosa Baptist Church Hall, 1 Lake Weyba Dr (Fairfax/Wide Bay)
• Sunshine Beach – Sunshine Beach State School, 105 Ben Lexcen Dr (Wide Bay)

The early polling locations are open between 8.30am and 5.30pm from Tuesday, October 3 to Friday, October 6, 9am to 4pm on Saturday October 7, 8.30am and 5.30pm from Monday October 9 to Thursday, October 12, and from 8.30am to 6pm on Friday, October 13.

Referendum voting day will take place on Saturday, October 14, with polling places to be open from 8am to 6pm.