Northern Territory Election Voting Concludes Amid Tight Race

Voting in the Northern Territory election has officially closed, and electoral teams are currently in the process of counting the ballots. Observers are predicting a tight race between Territory Labor, which is seeking a third consecutive term, and the Country Liberal Party (CLP), which aims to secure enough seats to form a new government.

According to ABC election analyst Antony Green, there has been a delay in the arrival of the official numbers from the Northern Territory Electoral Commission (NTEC). Green noted that scrutineers are diligently working through the ballot papers to ensure an accurate count. He expressed expectations for some results earlier in the evening, but affirmed the need for precision in the counting process.

One closely watched seat during the election is held by retiring Labor MLA Paul Kirby in the inner-city electorate. Robyn Cahill from the CLP is contesting this seat. Natasha Fyles, a long-serving Labor Member for Nightcliff, remarked on the narrow margin of victory in the Port Darwin seat, stating that a shift of merely 100 votes could alter its outcome.

Early voting data indicates that approximately one-third of enrolled voters in the Northern Territory chose not to participate in the election. The NT Electoral Commissioner, Kirsten Kelly, reported that around 23,000 ballots were cast on election day, supplementing over 82,000 early, mobile, and postal votes made during the pre-polling period. This brings the voter participation rate to over 65 percent, down from nearly 75 percent in the previous election.

Nicole Manison, a former deputy chief minister and Labor member for Wanguri, conveyed to the Sky News election panel that the count is expected to be “very, very tight.” She acknowledged the possibility of a swing against Labor. In a similar light, CLP Deputy Opposition Leader Gerard Maley emphasized that the party is cautious about the Katherine seat, where they won by a narrow margin in the last election.

In Katherine, two challengers, Labor’s Nick Lovering and independent Sam Phelan, are competing against the incumbent Jo Hersey from the CLP. All candidates have campaigned vigorously to secure their respective seats. Additionally, Kate Worden, the Labor Member for Sanderson, expressed that no seat should be deemed safe for any party, stressing the importance of constituents’ support as a reflection of hard work over her tenure.

The counting process is expected to continue into the evening, with results anticipated to emerge intermittently throughout the night. The potential for a hung parliament looms should neither major party secure a decisive majority, requiring collaboration with independent members to form a government.

Meanwhile, independent candidates have gained momentum, signaled by significant financial backing from Represent NT, which has funneled over $50,000 into their campaigns. Observers suggest that these candidates may impact the electoral landscape and challenge the existing party dominance.

Recent data revealed that the CLP has substantially outpaced Labor in political donations leading up to the election. The updated Electoral Commission figures indicate that the CLP has raised more than $1.3 million, nearly double their fundraising from the last election.

As results begin to trickle in, the anticipation among voters and candidates alike reinforces the significance of this election for the Northern Territory’s political future.