ACT Election 2020: Everything you need to know about election day
On Saturday Canberrans will be heading to the polls to cast their votes for the next ACT government.
But like many things this year, it will be a very different election.
A heavy push for pre-polling means that a majority of Canberrans have already cast their votes.
It will mean shorter queues at polling stations but the fanfare of election day will be subdued.
Can I get a democracy sausage?
Starting with the most important question.
Yes, if you are voting on Saturday some polling places will be offering the time-honoured tradition of a democracy sausage but it will be less places than normal.
Schools only got the go ahead to host a barbecue a couple of weeks ago, after Bunnings started offering sausage sizzles again.
But you might not be able to grab a cake as well. Schools are only permitted one stall and they have to operate in a COVID-safe way.
Due to the short notice some schools have decided not to host a sausage sizzle and others have thought of some clever alternatives - Palmerston District Primary School will be delivering democracy sausages via a drone.
The Democracy Sausage website is collating a list of voting places where you can grab one.
Where can I vote?
There will be 82 polling stations opened across Canberra on Saturday, from down south in Tharwa to up north in Hall.
How many people have pre-polled so far?
As of Thursday about 55 per cent of eligible voters in the ACT had cast their votes, but many more are expected to vote on Friday.
Elections ACT says up to 70 per cent of voters may cast their votes by close of business on Friday.
"The spread of voter turnout we're seeing over the full three-week period is exactly what we've planned as part of COVID safety arrangements in place for this election," ACT electoral commissioner Damian Cantwell said.
Will polling stations be COVID-safe?
Issuing officers will wear masks and be required to sit behind a perspex screen. Picture: Karleen Minney
Yes, voting will be a very different experience to previous years but not to dissimilar to the measures we have all come to know over the past six months.
Hand sanitiser stations will be at the entry and exit points, polling officials will be wearing marks and the issuing officers will be sitting behind a perspex screen.
Booths will be placed 1.5 metres apart and if there is a queue voters will be required to stand 1.5 metres apart.
As well, hygiene officers will be wiping down surfaces between uses.
Can I vote electronically?
Canberrans can vote electronically at the 15 polling booths that offered early voting. These booths have been set up with electronic voting over the past three weeks and voters can choose to either submit votes electronically or on paper.
The other booths will all be offering voting the traditional way - pen and paper.
Who do I vote for?
ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr and Opposition Leader Alistair Coe. Picture: Sitthixay Ditthavong
If you are still undecided, you can take the smartvote Australia survey which helps to match voters to the election candidates which share their views on certain policies.
The Canberra Times and the Australian National University joined forces on the project to help Canberrans make an informed choice at the ballot box.
When will I know who the winner is?
There is a chance Canberrans will know the result of the ACT election relatively early on Saturday night.
Due to the high number of early and electronic votes it could be one of the fastest elections in Australian history.
So you might not have to stay up late.