FED:Polls closed in eastern states

AAP General News (Australia)
08-21-2010
FED:Polls closed in eastern states

Polls have closed in the eastern states and Tasmania .. and counting is about to begin
in the federal election.

Voters in South Australia and the Northern Territory still have half an hour and West
Australians two hours .. to have their say in a contest that's set to go down to the wire.

Labor's bracing for large losses in the battleground states of Queensland and New South
Wales .. but is hoping a pick-up in Victoria and South Australia .. and Greens' preferences
.. will get them over the line.

The coalition needs 17 seats ... telling voters Labor doesn't deserve a second term.

More than 14 million people were enrolled to vote in today's election .. with polls
predicting one of the closest elections in recent history.

Prime Minister JULIA GILLARD and Opposition Leader TONY ABBOTT maintained a hectic
schedule today .. visiting marginal electorates in Sydney.

Polling stations .. set up at seven-thousand-700 locations around Australia .. have
stockpiled 43 million ballot papers .. under the supervision of some 70 thousand temporary
electoral staff.

AAP RTV /jmt/ajw/

KEYWORD: POLL10 VOTE (SYDNEY)

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