Early voting for this month's federal election kicks off today, with a handful of locations across the Hunter accepting prepoll ballots.
The Australian Electoral Commission has polling places set up in Newcastle, Charlestown, Maryville, Fletcher, Maitland, East Maitland, Rutherford, Raymond Terrace, Cessnock, Kurri Kurri, Singleton, Muswellbrook, Nelson Bay, Belmont, Cameron Park, Toronto and Cooranbong.
"We're engaging and training more staff than ever before to deliver an election in challenging circumstances, which includes COVID safety measures and labour market shortages," electoral commissioner Tom Rogers said.
"We expect, and have planned for, the furloughing of staff but with the scale and complexity of the election in a pandemic across Australia's vast geography, some venues could be impacted at short notice.
"We ask for all Australians to be patient. We have all learned to adjust our service expectations throughout COVID. There will be some queues which is why everyone needs to plan their vote."
PREPOLL PLACES IN THE HUNTER
- Belmont: Belmont Scout Hall, 52 Ernest St - May 9-13: 8:30am-5:30pm; May 14: 9am-4pm; May 16-19: 8:30am-5:30pm; May 20: 8:30am-6pm.
- Cameron Park: Pasterfield Sports Complex, 18C Horizon Ave - May 9-13: 8:30am-5:30pm; May 14: 9am-4pm; May 16-19: 8:30am-5:30pm; May 20: 8:30am-6pm.
- Cessnock: Cessnock Performing Arts Centre, 198 Vincent St - May 9-13: 8:30am-5:30pm; May 14: 9am-4pm; May 16-19: 8:30am-5:30pm; May 20: 8:30am-6pm.
- Charlestown: 224 Pacific Hwy - May 9-13: 8am-8pm; May 14: 9am-4pm; May 16-19: 8am-8pm; May 20: 8am-6pm.
- Cooranbong: Cooranbong Community Services Centre, 614 Freemans Dr - May 16-19: 8:30am-5:30pm; May 20: 8:30am-2:30pm.
- East Maitland: Living Hope Maitland Church of Christ, cnr Garnett Rd & Mitchell Dr - May 9-13: 8am-8pm; May 14: 9am-4pm; May 16-19: 8am-8pm; May 20: 8am-6pm.
- Kurri Kurri: Kurri Kurri Senior Citizens Centre, 132 Barton St - May 9-13: 8:30am-5:30pm; May 14: 9am-4pm; May 16-19: 8:30am-5:30pm; May 20: 8:30am-6pm.
- Maryland: Maryland Conference Centre, 207 Maryland Dr - May 9-13: 8am-8pm; May 14: 9am-4pm; May 16-19: 8am-8pm; May 20: 8am-6pm.
- Muswellbrook: Stan Thiess Memorial Centre, 173 Hill St - May 9-13: 8:30am-5:30pm; May 14: 9am-4pm; May 16-19: 8:30am-5:30pm; May 20: 8:30am-6pm.
- Nelson Bay: All Saints Church, 25 Church St - May 9-13: 8:30am-5:30pm; May 14: 9am-4pm; May-19: 8:30am-5:30pm; May 20: 8:30am-6pm.
- Newcastle: 2/239 King St - May 9-13: 8am-8pm; May 14: 9am-4pm; May 16-19: 8am-8pm; May 20: 8am-6pm.
- Raymond Terrace: Raymond Terrace Community Church, 10 Richardson Rd - May 9-13: 8:30am-5:30pm; May 14: 9am-4pm; May 16-19: 8:30am-5:30pm; May 20: 8:30am-6pm.
- Rutherford: Maitland City Salvos, 1A Bunning Ave - May 9-13: 8:30am-5:30pm; May 14: 9am-4pm; May 16-19: 8:30am-5:30pm; May 20: 8:30am-6pm.
- Singleton: Singleton Youth Venue, cnr Pitt & Bathurst St - May 9-13: 8:30am-5:30pm; May 14: 9am-4pm; May 16-19: 8:30am-5:30pm; May 20: 8:30am-6pm.
- Toronto: Toronto Amateur Sailing Club, 27 Victory Row - May 9-13: 8:30am-5:30pm; May 14: 9am-4pm; May 16-19: 8:30am-5:30pm; May 20: 8:30am-6pm.
