Redlands polling booths quiet on election day amid coronavirus fears

POLLS have closed after what voters and candidates report was a quiet day at voting stations across the Redlands.

Queues, candidates handing out how to vote cards and the traditional democracy sausage were nowhere to be seen, with voters getting in and out as quickly as possible to limit the spread of coronavirus.

More than half of Queenslanders had voted or made arrangements to vote before election day.

Division 2 candidate Callen Sorensen Karklis said there was also the real risk that others may not have voted at all due to the scare around the virus.

Some commenters on the Redland City Bulletin Facebook page said they would rather receive a fine than risk heading to the polls on election day.

Mr Sorensen Karklis said there was much to learn from the election coinciding with coronavirus.

"I fear that the (returning officers) were under considerable stress, strain and overworked because they themselves were also getting mixed messages from the state powers that be."

The ECQ expects the counting and declaration process to take longer than usual due to the unprecedented number of postal votes, as well as social distancing measures in place.

EARLIER

TODAY'S election is set to be quieter than usual, with record numbers voting via phone, post or heading to the pre-polls to avoid election day crowds amid coronavirus fears.

Voting stations were nearly empty this morning and largely free of volunteers and candidates.

Voters trickled into Bayview State School and Thornlands State School. It was quiet at Cleveland State High School with no queues and people keeping the 1.5 metre distance at polling booths.

An ECQ official said this was to be expected as postal and telephone votes had spiked this year.

Top of the agenda for the new council is likely to be dealing with the coronavirus pandemic as it unfolds.

A special meeting was held on Thursday to discuss council's response to COVID-19, in particular measures it could take to support struggling businesses.

In the meeting, mayor Karen Williams said there was a plan in place to brief and train new councillors.

"It will be a steep learning curve ... and they'll be relying on the experienced people in the room and officers to bring them up to speed really quickly," she said.

One Birkdale voter said it was ridiculous that the election had gone ahead.

"If they're closing our pubs and our gyms, they definitely should have called off or postponed the election," he said.

Councillors had also received emails asking for the election to be cancelled.

But the Queensland Electoral Commission told voters hygiene and people management precautions would be in place.

Voters were encouraged to bring their own pen or pencil.

Polling officials will be monitoring the number of people in attendance at polling booths to make sure there are fewer than 100 people at a time.

Queue control would be in place at some polling booths and tables and polling screens would be positioned to maximise distance between people.

Redlanders who have not yet voted can head to schools, community halls and some churches across the Redlands before 6pm today. For a full list, visit ecq.qld.gov.au.