The Electoral Commissioner warns voters in many regional parts of Australia may not have a polling centre in their town on election day because of a worker shortage.
Some of the larger towns affected in South Australia include Ceduna, Maitland and Two Wells, along with the Adelaide suburb of Maslin Beach.
The larger cities of Whyalla, Port Augusta and Port Pirie — all in the electorate of Grey — may have fewer polling booths than at previous elections.
The Australian Electoral Commission says the Queensland electorates of Capricornia, Flynn, Kennedy and Leichhardt may also be affected, along with Durack and O'Connor in Western Australia.
Electoral Commissioner Tom Rogers blamed worker shortages in regional areas.
"We're calling on other organisations to assist as a final push and investigating all possible staffing models, including amalgamating venues.
"We're also continuing to engage with local residents in the hope they'll put their hands up.
"For some people, it may mean that if you want to vote at a polling place in your town on election day, you may have to sign up to work as well."
Applications for positions can be made at www.aec.gov.au/electionjobs.
Postal voting applications closed at 6pm on Wednesday.
Work not attractive, says former manager
Michael Knowles told ABC South Australia he was the Ceduna polling booth manager during the March state election and had to do up to 40 hours of unpaid work in the lead-up to the day.
He said the work he had to do for the Electoral Commission of South Australia was unattractive and he was not surprised the Australian Electoral Commission was struggling to get workers.
"I spoke to the other seven people that I had working with me that day and I've also spoken to people from Wirrulla, which was on your list as well," he said.
"I've also spoken with people at Smoky Bay and a couple of other places.
"Not one of those is ever interested in ever doing another election, state or federal, again."
University of Adelaide emeritus professor of politics and international relations Clem McIntyre said he had never heard of polling booths being unmanned.
He said the only time it may have happened was during the Spanish flu pandemic.
"It's very, very unusual that the electoral commission can't find enough people to staff the booths that people are used to going to," he said.
Port Pirie Mayor Leon Stephens said the polling booth worker shortage was "quite alarming".
"We've been hearing that there's a very big shortage and a huge amount of training being done over the weeks leading into this election," he said.
"I guess, from what my sources are telling me, that it's been run out of Adelaide for the state of Grey, and that makes it a little bit different.
"I think when you move country people into organising, they get things done, and when you're trying to organise from afar, it's not as easy as first expected.
"And I would imagine that that's exactly what the electoral commission is finding out at this moment."
