To make sure your vote is counted drop it to your local council before voting officially closes at 10am. 

The votes received by mail before closing will be sorted into the correct council area and moved to the counting centres, Tasmanian Electoral Commissioner Andrew Hawkey said. 

“None of the envelopes are opened at the moment. The declaration slips have been removed from those that have been received and they’re sitting as seal envelopes,” he said.  

“From 10am on the Tuesday we will extract the ballot papers by 2.30-3pm, so we can throw to first preferences. We’re hoping to have our first lot of mayor and deputy mayor figures by 6.30pm.

For mayors and deputy mayors to be offered the position, they have to receive 50 per cent of the vote. 

Those elected aren’t expected to know everything about the council from the time they’re elected. They have to receive a certificate of election from the council first, then will have councillor induction days. 

Nearly 200,000 votes have been returned, giving the state a return rate of about 55 per cent. 

Two Northern councils, City of Launceston and West Tamar, have the state’s lowest return rates of about 50 per cent. 

King Island has the highest return rate for the state of 79 per cent, closely followed by Flinders Island. The North has a return rate of 54 per cent, the South is sitting at 55 per cent and the North-West is 57 per cent. 

Launceston tally room, at the Northern Bombers social room, will be open to the public from 6pm.