With the National Rugby League (NRL) Magic Round (1 – 4 May) coinciding with the 2025 federal election on Saturday 3 May, fans are being encouraged to ‘vote before you go’ by the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC).
In excess of 150,000 fans from outside Brisbane are expected to attend Suncorp Stadium for NRL Magic Round across the four days, prompting the AEC to urge fans to vote before they travel. Early voting is available at more than 550 early voting centres open around the country.
AEC National spokesperson Evan Ekin-Smyth said the AEC was working with clubs to remind fans of the voting options available to them ahead of the Round.
“With all the excitement of a major event, we know that voting may not be top of mind when NRL fans arrive in Brisbane.
“We also know fans will be busy and not wanting to spend some of their Magic Round weekend at a polling centre, so we’re encouraging them to cast their vote early so they can focus on enjoying the footy,” he said.
“If interstate voters aren’t able to vote early, it’s important to visit an interstate voting centre as not all polling places facilitate interstate voting. We’ve increased capacity at three inner city locations to accommodate NRL fans.”
Early voting options
Early voting centres are available to all voters – including interstate travellers. Early voting locations available across Brisbane include:
Brisbane City HallWest End Uniting ChurchSt Andrew’s Anglican Church, IndooroopillySt John the Baptist Catholic Church, EnoggeraThe Gap Uniting ChurchMcleod Country Golf Club, Mount OmmaneyGeebung Uniting Church HallSt Gerard Majella Church Hall, Chermside West
For a full list of early voting locations available across the country, visit aec.gov.au or search the where to vote tool.
Interstate voters on election day
For interstate fans unable to vote early, the AEC will be providing additional capacity at three interstate voting centres in Brisbane:
Interstate voting centre Address Expected catchment Brisbane City City Hall64 Adelaide St, Brisbane City Visitors staying in Brisbane city, and travellers enroute to Suncorp stadium from the airport and north, south and eastern suburbs. West End West End Uniting Church11 Sussex St, West End Visitors staying in the South Brisbane and West End area (including South Bank) Indooroopilly St Andrews Anglican Church 89 Fairly St, Indooroopilly Visitors staying in western suburbs
Too late for Postal
AEC is also today advising that anyone who has been thinking about casting a postal vote, but is yet to apply, that it may already be too late to do so.
Electoral Commissioner Jeff Pope said that while the legislated deadline for postal vote applications is at 6pm on Wednesday 30 April, it is extraordinarily difficult to service some people who apply that late, depending on their circumstances.
“If you can vote in-person, that’s what you should do,” Mr Pope said.
With around 2.4 million postal vote packs already distributed the AEC is also urging anyone who has received their postal vote ballot papers to complete them as soon as possible and put them in the return mail (using the reply-paid envelope supplied as part of the pack).
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