Election Day has arrived in Tasmania, with polling booths officially open across the state. Just over a year after the last state election, Tasmanians are heading back to the polls today to have their say on the future leadership of the Apple Isle.
While many voters have already cast their ballots early, thousands more are expected to vote in person today. Polling places will close at 6:00pm tonight, but a final result could take several days to confirm.
Where to Vote in Tasmania
To find your nearest polling location, visit the official Tasmanian Electoral Commission website. The site provides a complete list of all polling places across the state.
When Will We Know the Results?
According to Election Analyst Kevin Bonham, results tonight will likely be less complete than in 2024 due to postal votes not being counted immediately. However, we can still expect a general idea of the outcome to emerge during the evening.
[Video Source : abcnet.au]
Early Voter Turnout
As of Thursday, July 17 at 5:30pm, a total of 114,688 early votes had been cast out of the 408,000 registered voters in Tasmania. This means a significant portion of the population made use of pre-polling services.
What Are the Major Parties Promising?
The ABC has gathered key promises from the major political parties:
- The Liberals, led by Jeremy Rockliff, have proposed a new state-owned insurance company called TasInsure.
- Labor is campaigning on health reform, with plans to open 10 government-funded GP clinics under the TassieDoc initiative.
- The Greens are focused on education, health, housing, and transport — promising more teachers, better healthcare, free public transport, and rent control reforms.
One of the more contentious issues, the proposed Macquarie Point Stadium in Hobart, is supported by both Labor and the Liberals, but opposed by the Greens.
What Are the Latest Polls Saying?
The final YouGov poll, released on Friday night, indicates a very tight race:
- Liberals: 31% (down 4.9% from 2024)
- Labor: 30% (up 1%)
- Greens: 16% (up 3%)
- Independents: 20%
- Nationals: 2%
- Shooters, Fishers and Farmers: 1%
The poll predicts a hung parliament as almost certain, with neither major party likely to secure a majority. Interestingly, 55% of respondents prefer Labor’s Dean Winter as Premier in the event of no clear winner.
The proposed TasInsure policy received 41% support and 29% opposition in the same poll.
Who’s Running?
A total of over 160 candidates have nominated for this year’s election, spread across the five Tasmanian electorates:
- Bass: 31 candidates
- Braddon: 38 candidates
- Clark: 26 candidates
- Franklin: 31 candidates
- Lyons: 35 candidates
Does Counting Pause on Sunday?
Yes. All same-day votes will be counted on Saturday, along with results from 9 of the 15 pre-poll centres.
On Sunday, the remaining pre-poll votes will be counted before 2:00pm, after which the process pauses to validate postal votes and ensure no duplicate voting has occurred. Postal vote counting will resume from Thursday or Friday and continue until the following Tuesday, when preference distribution begins.
Final Thoughts
This year’s Tasmanian state election could be one of the most closely contested in recent memory. With a potential hung parliament and high voter engagement, the results are set to reshape the state’s political future. Stay tuned to official sources and news outlets for the latest updates throughout the count.
Visit our blog again for real-time updates, political analysis, and more coverage of the 2025 Tasmanian election.
