Where can I vote? Do I number every box? What you need to know about the Queensland state election

It’s been four years since Queensland last voted for a state government, in a pandemic-year election that delivered Annastacia Palaszczuk a third term in government.

With the Governor formally dissolving parliament this week, it’s time to do it all again. Here’s what you need to know as we head towards polling day on October 26.

Two contenders for premier: Steven Miles and David Crisafulli.Credit: Aresna Villanueva

Do I have to vote?

Are you an eligible Australian citizen, aged 18 or over? Then the answer is yes. Voting in Australia is compulsory, and that includes this state election.

If you don’t get your name marked off on the day, and don’t have a valid excuse, you will be sent a fine in the mail. It’s $80.65 if you pay by the due date, and double that if you pay late.

Where can I vote?

Often your local school, church or community hall will be turned into a polling booth. The Electoral Commission of Queensland’s website will provide a list of polling places before election day.

In general, it’s easiest to vote at a polling place in your own electorate. If you go to a booth in another electorate in Queensland on election day, you’ll still be able to vote, but it’ll be an absent vote (so the process might take a bit longer).

When are polling booths open?

Polling day is Saturday, October 26, and booths are open from 8am to 6pm.

What if I’m busy on election day?

You can cast an early or pre-poll vote at some polling booths, such as the one in Brisbane City Hall.

Another option is to apply for a postal vote, but be quick – they are sent out a couple of weeks before election day. If you meet strict eligibility criteria, there is also telephone voting. Find out more from the ECQ.

Do I have to number every box?

In state elections, you must number every box – what’s called compulsory preferential voting.

Choose one candidate to get your first-preference vote, by writing the number 1 in the box beside their name. Then, continue numbering the boxes in order of your preferences.

Who should I vote for?

This is totally up to you. You can choose to follow a party’s how-to-vote card, or make your own decision on who to preference.

Want to know what the two major parties are promising? Have a look at this collection of pledges to date.

How is the premier decided?

In state elections – and federal ones – you don’t get a direct vote on which person should lead the government. You’ll only see Labor leader Steven Miles’ name on your ballot if you’re voting in the electorate of Murrumba, and you’ll only see Liberal National leader David Crisafulli’s name in Broadwater.

Instead, you vote for your local member.

After the votes are counted, the party that wins the majority of seats in parliament, or that has enough support from other parties and independents to make up a majority, forms the government.

The leader of that party becomes the premier.

When will we know the winner?

Counting doesn’t start until polls close at 6pm.

Then, we’ll be live-blogging the results as they come in – at least until about 11pm, which is when the ECQ has told us they’ll stop counting votes for the night.

If the count is very close, the ECQ sometimes can’t declare the winner until counting postal votes, which can be 10 days after election day – potentially even longer if it comes down to preferences.

We can’t promise when we’ll know the winner. Last time, Palaszczuk declared victory about 10.30pm on election night, but in 2015, it was almost two weeks after election day when she emerged as the winner.