The leaders of Canberra's major parties are expecting the ACT election result to be close, with fewer than 170,000 votes still in play as the campaign enters its final week.
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More than 116,000 people have now cast their ballot ahead of next Saturday's poll, as of 4pm on Sunday.
In comparison, a total of 84,000 people voted early during the 2016 election.
Around 20,000 postal vote applications have also been received.
It means around 45 per cent of enrolled voters have cast their ballot or intend to vote via post with five days to go.
The high number of early and electronic votes will likely mean it will be one of the fastest elections in Australian history.
"We'll be able to display the results from all electronic votes cast at early voting centres within one to two hours of the polls closing. This will include a preliminary distribution of preferences," Elections ACT spokesman Evan Ekin-Smyth said.
"The strength of the indication that this provides, in terms of what the final results will be, is entirely dependent on just how many early/electronic votes are cast and then how close the margins are.
"It is certainly more results data provided at that early stage on election night than what is common with entirely paper-based electoral systems."
Elections ACT was aiming for 75 per cent of votes to be cast before Saturday due to COVID-19.
It tripled the number of early voting centres available, in order to spread voter turnout and reduce crowds on election day.
However even if three-quarters of Canberrans cast their vote before polling day, up to 70,000 people will still have to vote at one of the 82 polling places across the city.
ACT Labor leader Andrew Barr acknowledged the vote was likely to be close.
"Like every ACT Hare-Clark election it's decided by 5000 voters or so in each of the five electorates," Mr Barr said.
"There's a lot of people who've already voted who pretty clearly have a firm view one way or the other on what sort of government they want for the territory, so in the last week it will be about those undecided voters, those people who make their minds up as they walk into the polling booth.
"This election is one where every single vote matters, the last seat in every single electorate is up for grabs and we're taking nothing for granted and we recognise the importance of continuing to campaign throughout the final week."
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Canberra Liberals leader Alistair Coe also said the election would be tight.
"This election is going to be close and we're working hard. Everything we do is about making the ACT the best place to live work and raise a family. We want to lower taxes and deliver better services and that's what a Canberra Liberals government will do," Mr Coe said.
But Mr Barr said the likelihood of either the Liberals or Labor gaining majority government was "almost zero" due to the electoral system.
"Hare-Clark is an electoral system that almost always guarantees minority government , we're up to election number 10 now and there's only ever been one majority government and that was under a smaller electoral system with a much smaller electorate base back in the 17 member system going back to 2004," Mr Barr said.
"The likelihood of majority government is almost zero, it's only ever happened once before so like every campaign, every party is out campaigning for every last primary vote."
Labor will spend the final days of the campaign focusing on health, education, transport and combatting climate change, Mr Barr said.
"All of our commitments are funded, we don't require magic pudding economics, we don't require there to be 100,000 more ratepaying households, there's no need for crazy economics to underpin our approach," Mr Barr said.
"We recognise the importance of stimulating economic activity but doing so in a credible way, with a focus on local infrastructure. Affordable and deliverable, not pie in the sky commitments."
The Liberals will stick to their script of promising to slash taxes and improve services.
"Over the remaining days of this campaign we're going to keep working hard, keep telling Canberrans about our positive plan to save them $1800 every single year. We're fighting for Canberra. We're fighting for Canberrans and we're going to make the ACT the best place to live, work and raise a family," Mr Coe said.
Katie Burgess
Cassandra Morgan
It has never been more important for Canberrans to be able to access reliable and accurate information about health. As The Canberra Times’ health reporter, I am committed to ensuring our readers have access to this. I, like many in the territory, have family members who work in the sector. Although providing comprehensive coverage on the coronavirus pandemic is obviously my number one priority, I aim to frequently shed light on the fantastic work our frontline professionals do, as well as the challenges they face. Email me tips and story ideas at: c.morgan@canberratimes.com.au.
It has never been more important for Canberrans to be able to access reliable and accurate information about health. As The Canberra Times’ health reporter, I am committed to ensuring our readers have access to this. I, like many in the territory, have family members who work in the sector. Although providing comprehensive coverage on the coronavirus pandemic is obviously my number one priority, I aim to frequently shed light on the fantastic work our frontline professionals do, as well as the challenges they face. Email me tips and story ideas at: c.morgan@canberratimes.com.au.
