As Victorians go to the polls, more than a third of the state has already cast an early vote.
But for those who've left it until the big day to exercise their democratic duty, there's a risk they may not get to vote at all.
That risk comes from COVID-19, with another wave hitting the state and very few provisions in place for voters who catch it.
Applications for postal votes closed at 6pm on Wednesday. So, if any of those yet to vote have caught COVID-19 since that time, their options are limited.
Unlike in the federal election, telephone voting is not an option for COVID-positive people, as it was voided when the emergency declaration and isolation requirements were lifted.
On Wednesday, the Victorian Electoral Commission announced it would be opening one drive-through voting centre for COVID-positive people, based in Melton West.
The commission has also said that "if you are well enough, you can choose to attend a voting centre, but you must wear an N95 mask or better".
While it is no longer a legal requirement to isolate when you catch COVID-19 in Australia, official state government health advice still recommends isolating for at least five days after testing positive.
So how do you vote in the state election if you woke up sick with COVID-19 today and don't live near Melton?
The answer is, you probably don't.
Regional and young voters most affected
Ian Tulloch is an Adjunct Research Fellow with La Trobe University in Bendigo, who specialises in electoral politics.
He said the lack of options for COVID-positive voters is a huge disadvantage for any voter who doesn't live close to Melton, particularly those living in regional areas.
"It disenfranchises those people with COVID that haven't voted early; it means that they actually can't vote," Mr Tulloch said.
"You're also most likely to get COVID if you are working in hospitality or a close work setting, and so it's more likely to be younger voters in general."
And COVID-19 cases continue to rise across the state, with 22,281 cases reported this week — an increase of 9.5 per cent on the previous week.
The Victorian Electoral Commission said they acknowledged the Melton drive-through option would not be convenient or accessible to all voters with COVID, but they wanted to provide "at least one option".
"'There simply wasn't enough time to find and lease any other premises that were large enough to cope," said Acting Electoral Commissioner, Dana Fleming.
The VEC said if someone was too unwell to attend a voting centre in person, or was not comfortable attending a voting centre, it would be taken into account when "undertaking compulsory voting activities next year".
"Should any person who is COVID-positive not be able to vote on election day, we will certainly take that into consideration," Ms Fleming said.
Mr Tulloch said they should have been planning for this from the beginning.
"I think it was an oversight by the Victorian Electoral Commission to leave it so late to actually think about this," he said.
There is one way (kind of)
Although there aren't many options for COVID-positive people, alternatives have been provided for people who are impacted by flooding.
People who live in one of nine designated areas and have been affected by floods since October 13 are eligible to vote by phone.
Voters will need to make a declaration that they are unable to travel to or access a voting centre, but will not be required to provide evidence.
So, if you have the twin misfortunes of catching COVID and living in a flood-affected area, at least you will still be able to vote.
