THE Nationals’ Andrew Gee appears certain to become the new federal Member for Calare as early voting reveals no great surprises.
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Just 40 minutes after voting closed at 6pm, already 15 Calare booths have posted their results on the Australian Electoral Commission’s electronic tally room.
Mr Gee has secured 1201 first preference votes from the 2597 counted so far (54.51 per cent), followed by Labor’s Jess Jennings with 504 votes (20.13 per cent).
Of the minor parties, just a few votes currently separate The Greens’ Delanie Sky, Nick Xenophon Team’s Rod Bloomfield and Liberal Democrat Glen Davis.
However, early voting suggests a slight swing against The Nationals on a two-party preferred basis with Dr Jennings picking up a handy preference flow.
Currently Mr Gee is ahead 62-38 on a two-party basis.
Votes have so far been counted from booths in Cargo, Lucknow, Capertee, Windeyer, Rockley, Black Springs, Hill End, Glen Alice, Spring Terrace, Hampton, Orange North West, Barry, Neville, Carcoar and Peel.
There are 91 booths across Calare and The Nationals would always expect to poll strongly in the smaller, regional booths that tend to be the first counted.