Tasmanian Electoral Commission says 10,400 votes already cast in three Upper House seats

Just three weeks after the federal election, voters in three Tasmanian Legislative Council seats are off to cast their ballot. Read the details.

HOBART, AUSTRALIA - NewsWire Photos APRIL 30 2021: Legislative Council entrance. Parliament House, Hobart Waterfront, Tasmania. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Richard Jupe

Voters in three Legislative Council electorates are off to the polls again on Saturday – and already more than 10,400 have cast their ballot.

The result of the election for the seats of Nelson and Pembroke in the south and Montgomery in the North-West could change the make-up of the Upper House.

Former Senate president Stephen Parry who will run for the Liberal Party in Montgomery. Picture: Supplied.

In Montgomery, the Liberals will be hoping former Senate president Stephen Parry will win the seat after the retirement of sitting Liberal MLC Leonie Hiscutt.

However, Ms Hiscutt’s son Casey Hiscutt is running as an independent and is expected to poll strongly.

The other candidates in Montgomery are the Greens Dr Darren Briggs, Adrian Pickin from the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party and Gatty Burnett.

In Nelson, sitting MLC Meg Webb is being challenged by the Liberals’ Marcus Vermey and Nathan Volf who is standing for the Greens.

Independent MLC for Nelson Meg Webb speaks to the media on Parliament Lawns in Hobart on Monday, February 3, 2025.

There are five candidates running in Pembroke on Hobart’s eastern Shore, which is held by Labor’s Luke Edmunds.

The other candidates include two former MLCs, Clarence deputy mayor Allison Ritchie and Clarence ouncillor Tony Mulder, the Greens Carly Allen and Steve Loring from the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party.

Labor Member for Pembroke Luke Edmunds with his election sign. Picture: Simon McGuire.

The Tasmanian Electoral Commission said on Sunday more than 10,400 people have already voted by post or at a pre-poll centre.

“Over 4000 postal ballot packs have been issued, and approximately 40 per cent of them have been returned,” it said.

“It’s now too late to request a postal vote.”

Voters will be able to vote at one of the 50 polling places that will open from 8 am to 6 pm.

Full details of polling places will be published in the Mercury on Saturday and are on the TEC’s website.

For voters unable to get to a polling place on Saturday, six pre-poll centres are open this week.

Any elector who can’t get to a polling place on Saturday will need to vote early.

The TEC said that after a range of amendments to the Electoral Act in 2024, votes received by post before polling day will no longer be counted on polling night.

“The counting process now requires the Commission to verify that no elector has already voted through other means before counting postal votes, which is scheduled to commence on Thursday 29 May,” it said.

Originally published as Tasmanian Electoral Commission says 10,400 votes already cast in three Upper House seats