The 2019 federal election has gone off with remarkably few hitches and a "democracy sausage" success story.
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Just over 10 million Australians cast their ballots on Saturday at more than 7000 polling stations, following a record 4.76 million early votes cast and about 1.5 million postal votes.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison cast his ballot in his Sydney seat of Cook, while Labor leader Bill Shorten voted in his inner-western Melbourne seat of Maribyrnong.
However the day was marred by a man - believed to be a United Australia Party volunteer - being fined for allegedly exposing himself at a polling centre in Sydney's southwest.
Police were called to Bankstown about 10am after being told a 62-year-old man had been involved in a dispute with several people.
"It's alleged the man then committed an offensive act," a spokeswoman told AAP. He was issued an infringement notice for offensive conduct, as well as a move-on direction.
In another incident, Labor objected to a Chinese-language poster in the Victorian seat of Chisholm which used the same purple and white colours as the Australian Electoral Commission to urge people to vote for the Liberal Party.
The AEC declined to have them taken down, saying the commission did not own the colour scheme and the poster was properly authorised.
Luke Hilakari, the Victorian Trades Hall Council secretary, described it as a "massive rort" and an attempt to "trick Chinese voters".
Attorney-General Christian Porter was critical of the Labor candidate for Pearce, Kim Travers, putting up a sign featuring a photograph of her in police uniform framed by the familiar blue and white chequer police pattern.
"It is totally inappropriate to politicise the WA Police Force," Mr Porter said.
Mr Morrison returned from the polling booth with a tray of cakes and the gift of a small guitar carving engraved with his nickname "ScoMo".
Labor leader Bill Shorten kicked off with a morning run around Melbourne wearing a red T-shirt with the slogan "Vote 1 Chloe Shorten's husband".
After voting, Mr Shorten ate a democracy sausage - avoiding a repeat of his bizarre mishap from the 2016 election when he awkwardly tackled a sausage in a roll from the middle.
"Tastes like a mood for change," he said.
More than 1500 candidates have thrown their hat into the ring across 151 electorates, including more than 400 candidates contesting 40 Senate vacancies and just over 1000 people vying for 151 House of Representatives seats.
The final Newspoll of the campaign had Labor ahead of the coalition 51.5 to 48.5 on a two-party preferred basis while the last Ipsos poll had Labor ahead 51-49.
Australian Associated Press
