Today is your last chance to vote in the marriage survey

Activists are reminding marriage equality supporters that they have one last chance to vote Yes—by hand delivering their postal survey forms by this afternoon.

With the deadline now passed to return the forms by post, the only option left for eleventh-hour voters is to personally deliver them to drop-off centres at the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

The centres are open until 4:30 pm in every capital city, except Melbourne, which is closed for the Melbourne Cup public holiday.

“We know that many Australians like to work to a deadline—well that deadline has well and truly arrived,” Alex Greenwich of the Equality Campaign.

“Posting your Yes is now not an option, but there is still time to hand deliver your vote directly to the ABS.

“If your survey form is still on the kitchen table, or in the bottom of your gym bag, get it out, fill it in and take it to the ABS drop-off centre before 4:30 pm on Tuesday. The addresses are there on the ABS website.

“Do it first thing in the morning or on the way to your Melbourne Cup party. This is too important not to act, even this late in the process.

“Every Australian deserves to have their voices heard on fairness and equality for their LGBTI family and friends.”

The ABS last week estimated that more than 12.3 million people, or 77 per cent of eligible voters, had participated in the postal survey. A further estimate will be released this afternoon.

The Equality Campaign’s Shirleene Robinson said the high turnout was encouraging, but they would work until the survey closes to ensure every last Yes vote is returned.

“There’s still time to show our politicians that we won’t settle for anything less than fairness and equality for LGBTI Australians,” said Robinson.

“What better way to guarantee that your Yes vote is counted than to personally deliver it?

“Don’t wake up on November 15 and regret not having your say.”