From the harsh desert Outback to the frozen reaches of Antarctica, Australians at remote locations have been casting their votes ahead of tomorrow’s national election. Close to 2.2 million ballot papers had been handed in at pre-polling centres by mid-week, with small teams travelling across the vast country to ensure everyone eligible can vote. On Antarctica, expeditioners at Australia’s Davis Station voted on the sea ice in front of the research station, where temperatures are around minus 20 degrees Celsius. “I am glad that I can still have my say whilst being so far away from it all,” said Aaron Stanley, who works for the bureau of meteorology at Davis but was tasked with helping oversee the vote. “I’ve voted while on holiday in Malta before, but this is totally going to top the best voting location.”
The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC), which administers the poll for the 15.6 million citizens registered to vote, said there were four Antarctic polling sites with 46 people registered.
Of these, the most far flung is Mawson Station which is a whopping 5,475 kilometres from the southern Australian city of Hobart.
While the Antarctic voting is handled by current residents, the AEC has also sent 41 mobile teams by road and air to more than 400 remote locations around the country.
Full Article: From Outback to Antarctica, Australian votes roll in | World | Malay Mail Online.