Battle of the polling breakfasts

Gourmet rolls take on snags as Tasmanians turn out to vote

GOURMET breakfasts will vie with working class sausages to win over the tastebuds of voters at polling places across Tasmania today.

School volunteers will be out in force to raise money from hungry Tasmanians keen on the traditional election day snag or gourmet bacon and egg roll.

Butcher Marcus Vermey said he had ordered extra stock to ensure the whole demographic of Denison — from Hobart’s North to Taroona — was satisfied.

“We went our standard working class beef sort of sausage,” Mr Vermey said.

“We brought a few gourmet ones in and we also went for the paleo type.

“We went three groups.”

Several Hobart schools and the 10th Hobart Scout Group based at Sandy Bay are among those listed on website Democracy Sausage as hosting barbecues or cake stalls.

A total of 95 schools across the state will be used as polling places.

West Hobart’s different Goulburn Street Primary School will have a gourmet egg and bacon roll with free range eggs, bacon from Cygnet and Tasmanian chutney — along with baristamade coffee.

“Our killer is the egg and bacon rolls,” organiser David Schnitzer said.

“We did it 18 months ago when everyone was just doing sausages.

“The egg and bacons are more of a morning thing, especially first thing when people are voting.”

He said the money raised would help to pay for playground maintenance and software for reading and maths.

About 330,000 Tasmanians will vote today at 268 polling centres, from the northernmost at Currie Town Town Hall on King Island to the most southern venue at the Southport Community Centre.

More than 23,300 postal ballot packs have been issued, while 29,000 have voted at a pre-poll centre, up 5000 from 2014. Five regional pre-poll centres were expected to take about 3000 votes on Thursday and Friday.

About 1600 voters overseas in 85 countries and 800 interstate or remote electors had applied to vote “express” by email or fax.

The election tally room at the Hotel Grand Chancellor in Hobart will open to the public from 6pm. Early figures are expected from 6.30pm with most election night results received by 9pm.

Figures will be available on the Tasmanian Electoral Commission website or on the ElectionsTas smartphone app.

Polling places will be open from 8am-6pm and voters can vote at any polling place in Tasmania.

A list of polling places can be found on page 13 of today’s Mercury or at the TEC website: www.tec.tas.gov.au.

Vision-impaired voters can use a computer-based system to independently cast a ballot in secret.