Another 800k votes flood in for same-sex survey

The ABS has released the most recent update of returned postal ballots.

The number of returned same-sex marriage surveys has reached 10 million, the ABS has revealed.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics has revealed that at least 10 million Australians — or 62.5 per cent of eligible voters — have participated in the government’s postal survey on same sex marriage.

The most recent update measured the number of returned postal ballots as of Friday and showed an increase of 0.8 million forms on the previous week.

The ABS said the result was “indicative only” as it was based on the bulk containers of returned forms rather than on an individual count of processed ballots.

Co-chair of the Equality Campaign, Anna Brown, seized on the figures saying the “steady increase” in returns was “another reminder of how much Australians care about marriage equality and the lives of LGBTI Australians.”

“We have an opportunity reflect the values that we already live by, but to do that we need as many surveys as possible returned,” she said. “There are still millions of surveys that need to be posted back to the ABS, we want every Australian to have their say and post Yes for marriage equality.”

There are 17 days left until the date recommended for eligible Australians to return their postal surveys and only ten days left to request a replacement survey.

“Australians understand that this is simply about fairness and they know that voting Yes won’t take anything away from anyone but will make a profound difference to the lives of LGBTI Australians,” Ms Brown said.

Special Minister of State Scott Ryan says he expects a two-thirds return rate of same-sex marriage surveys.

“I think we could get very comfortably to two-thirds, which is an extraordinary response and a testament to the conduct of the debate and Australians’ willingness to participate in the survey,” Senator Ryan told Sky News.