I'm wrapping this up now, making way for Katharine Murphy to take over for the evening.
The latest exit polls are predicting a Coalition win. Both Roy Morgan and Newspoll are predicting a 52% to 48% split in favour of the Coalition, two part preferred. Prime minister Kevin Rudd is also in danger of losing his seat.
Whatever the result, enjoy your night, and follow all the results as they come in with Katharine over at the new election live blog.
Something I haven't mentioned yet today - a record 3.5m people pre-voted for the election this time around, according to the AEC. For the rest of you, it seems to have been a pleasant enough day - sausage sizzles and school fetes tend to bring out the best in people. Thanks for all your contributions and conversation.
I'll be back tomorrow to take you through the reactions and fallout over what looks to be - as predicted - a Coalition landslide.
Helen
We've seen the leaders, the voters, the kids and the volunteers. There's one category left - the pets.
The Abbott family dog, Maisie, wore her support for the Coalition this morning. Although with a top of 27 degrees in Sydney today, let's hope Maisie didn't have to wear the shirt for too long.
Maisie is on side! pic.twitter.com/cjpiUxNCAX
— Tony Abbott (@TonyAbbottMHR) September 6, 2013
A sign of the final vote perhaps?
As voters headed to the polls 4 #Election2013 today 57% of Tweets were about @TonyAbbottMHR vs. 43% of Tweets about @KRuddMP #AusVotes
— Twitter Australia (@TwitterAU) September 7, 2013
Once the polling booths close over the next few hours, complaints and reports from today will be investigated.
I've been told of an official complaint made at the Bellbowrie community church in the seat of Ryan, after an elbow was thrown during an altercation between an LNP volunteer and a member of the public.
The AEC won't know about specific polling station reports until after 6pm local time. Until then we won't know who owns the elbow.
Updated
In one of several uncomfortable moments for the candidates today, a woman points at Tony Abbott as he waits to vote at a local surf club this morning.
Exit poll predicts Coalition win by 25 seats
Sky News and Newspoll have released their exit poll and predict the Coalition will win 97 seats today. Labor will be left with just 51 MPs in parliament after losing 21 seats, according to their report.
Independents Andrew Wilkie and Bob Katter will keep their seats, and Greens party MP for Melbourne Adam Bandt will lose, the poll predicts.
The two-party preferred result, based on marginal seats in NSW and Queensland, splits 52% to 47% in favour of the Coalition.
Griffith is still in contention as the exit poll predicts a 50/50 split between prime minister Kevin Rudd and Coalition candidate Bill Glasson.
Lots of you are voting for the first time today. Below are some of the photos and stories. Thanks for sending them in.
Ian Mears writes to us about his first vote as an Australian citizen.
And what a beautiful day for it. Five minutes after voting I was in the ocean at Coogee which was all the reminder I needed of how fortunate I now am to be Aussie. I became a citizen on Australia day and got kissed by the prime minister, and after my first vote I got hugged by Peter Garrett.
Kay Reany set herself a cheeky task while voting at Sydney Secondary College in Leichhardt - convincing volunteers from opposing parties to pose for a photo together.
She writes: "I asked them to hold hands. They didn't quite appreciate the levity of the situation."
Treasurer Wayne Swan is not overly confident that he'll hold on to his marginal Queensland seat of Lilley. Swan has lost it once before - in 1996 before winning it back in 1998. He currently holds it with a slim 3.2%.
"Elections aren't won or lost on the last day, the last week or the last month: in many ways they are decided much earlier than that," he said.
"What you've done in the previous three years is more important."
From Brin Anniwell:
A photo that I took at Australia Street Infants School in Albo's electorate today.
"The smell of democracy" certainly is a sausage on the BBQ.
A Morgan-Ten News exit poll has the Palmer United Party at 9.5% of the vote in Queensland:
RT @_AdamTodd: Morgan-Ten News exit poll has the Palmer United Party polling 9.5% in Queensland #tennews #ausvotes
— TEN News Queensland (@tennewsqld) September 7, 2013
Let's spare a thought for Australians outside of the country today, and one Hollywood superstar in particular who is currently scrambling around trying to find somewhere to vote.
Hugh Jackman has been talking to AAP from the Toronoto Film Festival and has admitted he's not yet cast his ballot.
"I have to find a place here to do it," said Jackman who was described as "desperate but smiling"
I missed the postal vote date.
Do you know where to do it here?
It was then suggested to Jackman that he might be able to squeeze in a vote at the Australian Consulate in Toronto, to which he replied:
I have to duck out to do it.
Not only do I get fined, there will be an article about me getting fined.
Who's voting for the first time today?
Susie Thompson is a little excited to cast her first vote as a new Australian citizen in Manly, NSW.
If today was the first time you took part in an Australian federal election (either as a new citizen or just a young one), let me know how it went (and send a photo while you're at it?) to helen.davidson@theguardian.com
The latest Roy Morgan exit poll (they've been doing them hourly since midday) has the primary votes spread out as follows:
- Coalition: 42%
- Labor: 33.5%
- Greens: 11%
- Palmer United: 5%
- Other: 8%
Clive Palmer, leader of the Palmer United party, told Guardian Australia the "exit polls [are] not accurate."
The 2PP split is 52% to 48% in the Coalition's favour.
Sammy Dawes and Elle Green vote at a Docklands, Melbourne booth before heading to the races.
A nasty surprise for Deakin MP Mike Symon (the MP with the 'how to reverse donkey vote' cards), whose office was attacked overnight.
This report from Oliver Milman in Melbourne.
Pretty miserable day so far for Labor MP Mike Symon, who discovered that his electorate office was vandalised overnight. Symon already has enough on his plate, given the desperately tough battle he has in holding onto the seat of Deakin.
“The office got attacked by some sort of ferals last night,” he told Guardian Australia as the heavens opened above him in east Melbourne.
“They smashed the windows with hammers and spray painted the building with ‘free the refugees’. Very similar to what happened to Anna Burke.”
Symon admits he faces an “uphill” battle to retain Deakin, given that a redistribution slashed his margin to just 0.6% and that Liberal candidate Michael Sukkar has “massively outspent” him during the campaign. Current polling suggests Sukkar will comfortably capture the seat.
“I’ve never seen resources put into this electorate during a campaign before,” he said. “The signage and direct mail is everywhere. I can’t compete with that, it’s well out of my league.
“I’d peg my chances at 50-50. I don’t think our situation in Victoria is looking as bad as elsewhere in the country. I look at some of the polls in other parts of the country and think ‘well, that’s an issue that isn’t very easy to sort out.’”
World famous Liberal candidate Jaymes Diaz, otherwise known as the "Where's Wally" of the 2013 election, is still in hiding, according to Fairfax.
Diaz, who made world headlines when he failed to name more than one point of the Coalition's six-point plan to "stop the boats" in a TV interview, has been notoriously - and perhaps understandably - media shy.
Jaymes Diaz, is not turning up to his own electorate party - or at least not until late in the evening, probably after government has been safely declared. - Sydney Morning Herald
In case you've forgotten Diaz's interview, or the other gaffes from the last five weeks, here's a nice little wrap to remind you.
More on the Rudd voting debacle.
The Guardian's Mike Bowers describes what it was like when the prime minister tried to cast his vote surrounded by a press pack who didn't have the appropriate permission to be inside the polling station.
Brisbane's West End and Ascot have been invaded by campaigners of a different kind. Gigantic pink rabbits, created by artist Stormie Mills, popped up to spruik the upcoming Brisbane Festival which kicks off at 5pm today.
A report from Oliver Milman in Melbourne on Adam Bandt - the sole Greens MP in the current parliament. Headlines don't really fit anywhere in a live blog, but Oli submitted one anyway.
Bandtwagon
Greens MP Adam Bandt has cast his vote at a booth near his house in the Melbourne suburb of Flemington. He is involved in a tight two-way battle with Labor’s Cath Bowtell for the seat of Melbourne.
He told Guardian Australia the early indications are extremely optimistic. Bandt has to lift his primary vote by around 4% to retain the seat, due to Liberal preferences flowing to Labor ahead of the Greens.
“I’ve been getting very positive feedback. A lot of people are saying they are shifting their votes to the Greens this time. I feel we are on track to increase our vote enough to win.”
“It’s hard to read the tea leaves but it feels like we have our noses in front. I’ve already had Liberal voters telling me that they don’t want their votes electing a Labor backbencher.”
Former ALP president Warren Mundine has revealed he voted for the Liberals for the first time today.
His recent support of the Coalition has not been a secret. Mundine has been named by Abbott as the man who will head a new Indigenous Advisory Council should the Coalition win government.
#auspoll #ausvotes13 Like many Australians 2day I voted Liberal for the 1st time (yes Joe you). Labor has become a party of spin not workers
— Warren Mundine (@warrenmundine) September 7, 2013
Indigenous issues have been contentious in recent days. Despite wanting to be the "Indigenous affairs prime minister", Abbott came under fire after the Coalition costings - released on thursday - revealed they would cut $42m from legal aid services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.
Many Indigenous voters felt their key concerns were being ignored by the major parties, as the Guardian discovered when visiting communities in the Northern Territory.
Joe Hockey has added his voice to Abbott's calls to avoid a hung parliament.
"Having minority interests is not going to serve Australia well. I'd urge Australians not to muck around with minority parties."
Hockey was at Northbridge public school in his seat of North Sydney earlier where he ran into former (Labor) prime minister Bob Hawke.
2 votes I am afraid I did not get at Northbridge Public School booth. pic.twitter.com/v1wFFmtHCG
— Joe Hockey (@JoeHockey) September 7, 2013
Kevin Rudd has now cast his vote in Griffith and it didn't go smoothly. Evidently camera crews hadn't been given permission to film what is mostly a media opportunity for the PM, so there was some awkward back-and-forth as polling officials tried to reach the AEC.
Rudd was then - like Abbott earlier today - subject to some fervent heckling from protesters over his controversial PNG solution.
This is after his initial plans to vote early this morning were bumped for some last minute interviews.
Kevin Rudd & Therese arrive to cheer an jeers. Note Nemo in the orange suit pic.twitter.com/iXIb1lGwQW
— Gabrielle Chan (@gabriellechan) September 7, 2013
Updated
We've already seen the Palmer United hummer. Now it's Anthony Albanese's morris minor, spotted by the Guardian's news editor Lee Glendinning in Sydney.
Albo's morris minor in Newtown. Mean streets of the inner west no place for hummers #ausvotes pic.twitter.com/0xy14QlKvt
— Lee Glendinning (@lee_glend) September 7, 2013
A Roy Morgan - channel Ten exit poll has the Coalition ahead with 52% of the 2PP vote to Labor's 48%.
They put the primary votes at:
- Coalition: 42%
- Labor: 34.5%
- Greens: 11%
- Palmer United: 5%
- Other: 7.5%
They might not be old enough to vote yet, but there are lots of kids tagging along to the polling stations with their parents.
Reader Peter Leybourne took young Henry to the Balmain public school polling station in Sydney. He ponders "my son likes dirt. Is he a natural Greens voter?"
Leybourne also wonders if the corflutes are recyclable. Anyone know?
Updated
Tony Abbott has been whisked away by security, cutting his visit to Barton short. Sky News reports it's due to the heckling from pro-asylum seeker protesters.
I'm looking forward to seeing how effective this campaign tactic is after the polls close.
Have you seen any other campaign strategies that are a little outside the box? Send 'em in. helen.davidson@theguardian.com
Gets my vote! pic.twitter.com/NNHmTGUCaS
— Deborah Hutton (@deborahhutton) September 7, 2013
Updated
Guardian journalist Paul Owen (co-creator of the earlier mentioned election graphic novel) is experiencing the great Australian election tradition.
Sunny election day sausage sizzle in Surry Hills, Sydney pic.twitter.com/1QtS6hd67B
— PaulTOwen (@PaulTOwen) September 7, 2013
Tony Abbott is being ferociously heckled as he visits the seat of Barton in Sydney. Lots of shouting and placard waving from protesters, as well as from Coalition supporters trying to drown them out. Sky News says this is what democracy's all about.
Well, that and the voting.
A quick snap from Guardian Australia editor Kath Viner in Sydney. At least there aren't any budgie smugglers.
Semi-nudity in the voting queue pic.twitter.com/xckIOJGdJ7
— Katharine Viner (@KathViner) September 7, 2013
Interesting developments from one of the more controversial election battles - Victoria's Indi electorate, currently held by Liberal MP Sophie Mirabella.
We've heard allegations of Coalition supporters wrapping up the Wangaratta Tafe in double-sided, anti-independent posters overnight.
A photo on Twitter this morning appears to show Mirabella and her husband taking the signs down - reportedly under instruction from the AEC, which Mirabella's camp denies knowledge of.
This report from the Guardian's Oliver Milman in Victoria:
Mirabella's spokesman said he wasn't aware of her hauling down signs.
"At various booths, all parties have been asked to take down signs. It's childish stuff for the McGowan camp to be bringing this up. They've mentioned stuff about one or two of McGowan's signs being criminally damaged but we've had tens of Sophie's signs being defaced with Nazi signs and other things.
"No one side is pure on this. I've seen McGowan's people being asked to take down signs because there were within six metres of the booth. For McGowan's campaign to allege dirty tricks is pretty poor as they're guilty of that themselves."
An AEC spokesman would only say that they would ask candidates to take signs down within the six metre perimeter, and wouldn't confirm that this had happened in this case.
Check out this picture - Mirabella & husband Greg removing bunting this morning after direction from AEC #indivotes pic.twitter.com/KzQwuUJf0W
— Zuvele Leschen (@ZuveleLeschen) September 6, 2013
'sausages' is now trending in Australia http://t.co/giFpgT62Zv
— Trends Australia (@TrendsAustralia) September 7, 2013
There are a number of Labor electorates in danger around the nation, but none are more symbolic than Griffith - the seat of prime minister Kevin Rudd.
Rudd holds the seat by an 8.5% margin but polls in recent weeks point to Liberal National party rival Bill Glasson being a threat. A Guardian Lonergan poll published two weeks ago pointed to Glasson leading 52% to 48% on two party preferred votes. A Nielsen poll done shortly after found the same result.
This morning Glasson told AAP that the contest is "probably a line ball."
The reality is there is probably seven or eight per cent of voters still undecided this week and my fate and Mr Rudd's fate lies in their hands.
It is going to be extremely close and I think it is going to come down to preferences.
It wouldn't surprise me if it is a late result.
Leader of the Greens, Christine Milne has cast her vote in Hobart.
Milne told reporters that she believed the realisation among voters that Tony Abbott is likely to be elected prime minister will favour the Greens.
"I don't think anyone in Australia would want to see Tony Abbott having absolute power," she said.
Slezak did later clarify there is also a sausage sizzle nearby. Phew.
Only in Double Bay is the sausage sizzle replaced with a Japanese tea stall. pic.twitter.com/oznQmz1giW
— Michael Slezak (@MikeySlezak) September 6, 2013
This is the Deakin how-to-vote card from Labor's Mike Symon. Interesting numbering of the other candidates there. Is it a coincidence or Labor-endorsed donkey vote? Tell me what you think in the comments.
Bondi residents fit in a quick swim before casting a vote.
Today is also notable for other reasons.
Make a metaphor of it if you will, but today is national threatened species day, which is held on 7 September every year, and commemorates the death in captivity of the last Tasmanian Tiger in 1936.
Tonight the Wallabies take on the Springboks at Suncorp stadium in Brisbane.
It's also national beard day, which I'm not certain is all that official, but it did inspire a typically ridiculous NT News front page.
TOMORROW’S AN IMPORTANT DAY IN AUSTRALIAN HISTORY, AS OUR FRONT PAGE SHOWS #beards pic.twitter.com/CEaGQE6XRC
— The NT News (@TheNTNews) September 6, 2013
Data journalist Nick Evershed has a problem with Australia's election map. So he's built a better one. He writes:
I've spent a lot of time thinking about maps this election. Australia has an interesting problem when showing election results on a map – because of our vast landscape, with population centres clustered at the edges, the electorates do not align very well with geography.
A sneak preview is below, but check out the full Datablog here.
Tony Abbott and Kevin Rudd have each done a quick television appearance this morning.
Rudd told channel Nine's Today show that he is "very confident" in the judgement of the Australia public.
They will assess what is best for our country's future, what is best for their community's future.
When asked if he intended to remain as opposition leader should Labor lose the election, Rudd replied that "you take things one step at a time," and then pivoted to some statements about democracy. "I'm out there fighting for everyone in every seat ... to be returned to the Australian Labor Party."
A little earlier, speaking to Sky News from Freshwater beach, the opposition leader said that he is confident that he and his team "are ready" for leadership.
I hope that people all exercise great judgement in casting their vote. The one thing we don't need coming out of today is another hung parliament.
Abbott also said he would keep up his exercise routine if he became prime minister, but probably wouldn't adopt the John Howard tracksuit. "I'm not sure that his fashion style will be my fashion style. He never seemed to fancy the budgie smugglers, for instance."
So there's some imagery for you this morning.
Something a little different here from Paul Owen and David Blumenstein.
They chart the highs and lows of the Australian election campaign – from Kevin Rudd's sensational return to the throne to Tony Abbott's 'sexygate' row, not forgetting Julian Assange on YouTube and Clive Palmer twerking – all in comic strip form.
Updated
Guardian Australia's David Marr writes today on opposition leader Tony Abbott:
This is what victory looks like: an exhausted man cuddling puppies and inspecting a guitar factory. There are no more votes to be mopped up. Tony Abbott is going through the motions.
Read more here.
This from Guardian Australia's data journalist, Nick Evershed.
Some candidates have buses, some have utes, Clive Palmer's party has a hummer! Spotted in North Sydney last night.
Tony Abbott has just cast his vote at Freshwater surf club in his Warringah electorate.
Prime minister Kevin Rudd won't be voting until lunchtime. He's got a few TV appearances to squeeze in, according to Guardian Australia's political correspondent Gabrielle Chan, who is on the Rudd campaign bus.
I've just cast my vote at Freshwater. For strong and stable government, vote for the Coalition #ausvotes pic.twitter.com/cPNhC5NCfR
— Tony Abbott (@TonyAbbottMHR) September 6, 2013
Updated
A quick catch up on where we are poll-wise.
A Guardian Lonergan mobile-only poll revealed on Friday night that Labor has gained a little ground against the Coalition. The Coalition is still looking to win with 50.8% of the two party preferred vote to Labor's 49.2%.
Read more from Lenore Taylor here.
Elsewhere, the latest Newspoll has predicted a 40-seat win for Tony Abbott. On the two part preferred vote, it found 54% to the Coalition against 46% for Labor.
The Newspoll, which was conducted from Tuesday to Thursday, found the Coalition had 46% primary vote support, Labor with 33% and Greens with 9%.
Good morning everyone, and welcome to the Guardian's polling day live blog. Katharine Murphy will be on later this afternoon to take you through the evening as results come in.
In the meantime, grab your first sausage sandwich and lions club coffee and join me in our coverage of everything going on around the country today.
We'll follow the pollies as they cast their votes and do some last minute campaigning, check in on some of the key seats and most contentious battles, and of course, try to find the land's best sausage sizzle.
I'd love to hear from you - what's going on at your local polling station? How are you feeling about the election?
It's decision day. Let's go.
Updated
