Australia has voted yes to marriage equality, new poll shows
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Australians have voted for marriage equality, according to a new poll.
The country is currently voting on whether marriage rights should be extended to same-sex couples in a non-binding postal vote.
Sky News Australia found major support for marriage equality in a new a poll of more than 5,000 Australians.
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64% of respondents said they had already voted ‘yes’ to the proposal and sent their forms back.
The results suggest a landslide win for the pro-LGBT campaign, with just 15.5% of respondents saying they have sent back their votes for ‘no’.
Overall, the latest poll of 16 million Australian voters indicates a victory of 79% for the ‘yes’ campaign.
77% of Australians have returned their ballots to date, though voting continues in the country until 7 November, after which the government will choose how to respond to the results.
Polling had shown a drop in support for equal marriage as anti-LGBT activists began a divisive campaign based on tactics developed by evangelicals in the US, attempting to conflate the marriage vote with transgender issues and LGBT sex education.
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Ballots will continue to be sent back by registered voters in the coming days and weeks.
The ballot paper will read: “Should the law be changed to allow same-sex couples to marry?”
Polling shows that the Yes campaign has a healthy lead in the vote.
The deadline for the return of ballots is November 7, giving a voting period of nearly two months.
The result of the ballot will be announced at the end of November.
Tiernan Brady, Executive Director of The Equality Campaign, said: “We are in it to win it.
“We are committed to doing all in our power to ensure that the long held wish of the Australian people for marriage equality for all Australians is reflected in the results of the survey.
“This must be a campaign of millions of respectful conversations that unites the country.
“We haven’t a moment to lose and we are hitting the ground running with hundreds of thousands of supporters talking about why marriage equality matters.
“This is a vote about the worth, dignity and status of members of our family, friends, workmates and neighbours, and across the country people are standing up for them.
“Today the Campaign releases new TV and Radio advertisements calling supporters across the nation to get out and vote.
“We know that the Australian people support marriage equality but no one can be complacent – it is all about getting as many surveys returned as possible.
“We call on everyone to participate and to talk to their family and friends to make sure they do too. Together, lets get this done.”
