- The Australian Bureau of Statistics recommends Australians return the vote now
- Almost 75 per cent of voters have handed in their postal survey form
- The votes are due by 6pm on November 7 with results published on the 15th
- Malcolm Turnbull said if Yes prevails gay marriage will be legal by Christmas
Four million Australians still haven’t handed in their same-sex marriage vote – and it must be posted today to ensure it is counted.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics said Friday is the last recommended deadline for sending in your decision if you want it to reach the ABS by 6pm on November 7.
So far opinion polls suggest the Yes vote may come out on top but campaigners are worried complacency may allow No to catch up, news.com.au reports.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics said Friday is the last recommended deadline for sending in your decision if you want it to reach the ABS by 6pm on November 7
ABS deputy Australian statistician Jonathan Palmer said people should send back their completed survey forms in the reply paid envelope right away
ABS deputy Australian statistician Jonathan Palmer said people should send back their completed survey forms in the reply paid envelope right away.
‘We’d like to ensure we have the highest participation rate possible for this voluntary survey,’ he said.
‘We strongly recommend that you post back your completed forms straight away and certainly no later than October 27 to make sure you have your say.’
Approximately 16 million forms were sent out in September when the voting began and 11.9 million of them have been returned.
Approximately 16 million forms were sent out in September when the voting began and 11.9 million of them have been returned
If the Yes vote does prevail Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said the law will be changed by Christmas this year, providing the bill gets passed by parliament.
In recent weeks both sides of the campaign have stepped up their efforts, with 15,000 people marching in Sydney streets on Saturday in support of allowing same-sex couples to marry.
On the same day, at least 150 protesters gathered outside the city’s St Mary’s Cathedral with the message ‘It’s OK to vote No.’
Unfortunately their protesting disrupted a heterosexual couple’s wedding, with the bride asking them move along, the ABC reported.
Survey results will be published on November 15.
If the Yes vote does prevail Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said the law will be changed by Christmas this year