Around 10 million Australians, or 62.5% of the electoral roll, have now voted in the marriage law postal survey, as the eight-week period reaches its halfway point.
The latest update from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows 800,000 forms were received in the past week – a rise of five percentage points compared with this time last Tuesday.
With four weeks left until the survey closes on 7 November, the ABS will continue providing weekly updates on the nation’s participation in the non-compulsory postal survey.
The GetUp marriage equality director, Sally Rugg, said the turnout showed “huge public energy” in the campaign.
“More Australians have already cast a vote in our postal survey than Irish people did in their referendum for same-sex marriage,” she said. “We’re cautiously optimistic that today’s update is a good sign and we’re even more committed to get every yes vote to the postbox.”
Coalition for Marriage spokesman Lyle Shelton said the no campaign would continue “at full speed” for the month left in the survey.
“It is encouraging to see so many Australians choosing to have their say,” he said. “However, with 6 million Australians still yet to cast their ballot, there are a lot of people we need to reach.”
A Guardian Essential poll released last Wednesday said 64% of respondents who had already voted had voted yes, compared with 30% who had voted no.
Its survey of 1,841 voters also found support for same-sex marriage rose to 61%, compared with 58% the week before.
The ABS said Australians who had not received their survey had until 20 October to order a replacement.
The weekly estimate is not based on an individual count of processed forms, but on the weight and number of bulk returned forms. It does not count forms that have been posted but have not yet arrived at the ABS.
The ABS recommends people mail back their ballot by 27 October and will count ballots received before 7 November and declare the result on 15 November.
Earlier on Tuesday, the word “No” was written above the Melbourne CBD and was quickly ridiculed for its use of block letters.
This is not what Melbourne is about. We will #ChooseLove and #VoteYes. Love is love. pic.twitter.com/QStMCDFjAF
— Richard Di Natale (@RichardDiNatale) October 10, 2017
'How'd writing No in the sky go?'
— Colley (@JamColley) October 10, 2017
'Terribly. People really hated it.'
'Hmm.. do it again - but in bubble writing.'
have they no shame pic.twitter.com/GoQiHW5rlS
— 🎃 The Capability 🎃 (@patbcaruana) October 10, 2017
The ABS advises those who have not received a form, or whose form is lost or damaged, to contact the ABS website or call 1800 572 113.
