Ballot counting is underway to decide the next civic leader of northern Australia’s largest city, with former Katter’s Australian Party MP Nick Dametto currently leading the vote.
Before 9pm on Saturday night over 34,000 ballots had been counted by the Electoral Commission of Queensland (ECQ).
Early counting showed Mr Dametto in front, with 60 per cent of the vote.
About 142,000 enrolled voters live in the Townsville City Council area, making the election the largest full postal ballot to be conducted by the ECQ.
Nick Dametto said he was feeling confident on Saturday night. (ABC North Qld: Gabrielle Becerra Mellet)
Mr Dametto said he was feeling confident.
“You want to be able to sit down, crunch the numbers and make sure that there is no way another candidate can inch back to front run,” he said.
Voters were given until 6pm on Saturday to complete their postal ballots for the Townsville mayoral by-election, which was triggered by the resignation of former suspended mayor Troy Thompson.
Mr Thompson resigned amid a Crime and Corruption Commission investigation, but has denied any wrongdoing and is again contesting the role.
A postal by-election will decide the next mayor of the north Queensland city (ABC North Qld: Chloe Chomicki)
Eight candidates are vying for the mayoral role, while nine are listed on the ballot.
Candidate Sean Gleeson confirmed his withdrawal from the race last month.
On Saturday, ECQ figures showed 87,050 postal votes were ready to be counted.
Electoral Commissioner Pat Vidgen said staff were counting first preference votes, with results to be progressively updated online.
“The declaration will only occur once the outcome is certain, and that may take until after the postal vote deadline,” he said.
All votes must be completed by 6pm on November 15 and received by the ECQ by 5pm on November 25.