Crunch time in Victoria with record early turnout for state election

The state has had its highest early voting figures after a dramatic campaign, as Victorians flock to the polls with Labor in the lead.

Victorians head to the polls today at the end of a dramatic campaign, with Labor in the lead following record early voting figures.

Opposition Leader Matthew Guy was upbeat on election eve, saying: “We look at our research and it says we’ve got a good chance.”

The Newspoll published by The Weekend Australian showed Labor ahead of the Liberal-National Party on 53.5 per cent to 46.5 per cent on a two-party preferred basis.

It means the Labor government could lose its lower house majority, forcing it into a deal with the Greens or independents.

The poll, conducted on Wednesday and Thursday after a dramatic campaign marred by terrorism, showed 41 per cent of the primary vote going to Labor, 40 to the Liberal-Nationals and 11 to the Greens.

Voters supported the ALP on the economy and its ability to keep power prices down.

Mr Guy said Victorians would face higher taxes to fund Labor’s multi-billion-­dollar infrastructure program.

The state has seen a record early voter turnout. Picture: Tony Gough

Preferred premier was Labor’s Daniel Andrews on 45 per cent, with Mr Guy on 33 per cent.

Pre-election polls published in The Age and Herald Sun have delivered similar results, predicting Labor as the winner.

Incumbent premier Mr Andrews and his opponent both spent their final day of campaigning in the hotly contested electorate of Cranbourne in Melbourne’s southeast.

The area has seen huge population growth with 35 per cent more voters added to the electoral roll since 2014.

The leaders made final funding pledges, though their persuasive efforts were lost on almost 1.4 million Victorians who had already cast their ballot. The Victorian Electoral Commission confirmed on Friday evening that 1,388,799 Victorians had voted early between November 12 and November 23. A further 250,405 Victorians submitted postal votes.

These numbers combined account for 40 per cent of the 4.1 million enrolled electors — the state’s highest early voting figures to date. Despite a rough end to their election campaign with multiple candidates coming under fire for unethical behaviour, the Greens remain hopeful of forming a minority government with Labor.

The party hopes to hold on to its inner-city electorates of Melbourne, Prahran and Northcote, and to gain Richmond and Brunswick.