Update, 9.50pm: Liberal candidate for Bendigo East Ian Ellis queried the amount of support the Liberal hierarchy had provided to his campaign.

He said a number of projects he wanted to progress, like money for a feasibility study for a Bendigo ring road and infrastructure improvements for Eaglehawk bowls club, were overlooked.

“When you look at the amount of money that was promised in other seats, I just think money that’s promised should be equal in each region regardless of the margin of the seat. All of Victoria is important,” he said.

Mr Ellis congratulated Labor MP Jacinta Allan on her victory, but suggested she “bought” the win with her promises.

“Now she’s got to make sure she delivers them,” he said.

Reflecting on the preliminary vote, Mr Ellis said it had been “a wipeout” for Labor across Victoria, but it “wasn’t as bad in Bendigo East”, which, he said, was reflective of his campaign.

Bendigo West Liberal candidate Kevin Finn said he would have preferred a little more time to make an impact on voters in his electorate.

Mr Finn had a 45-day campaign after being preselected in October.

“It was difficult to try and develop my profile and have people recognise you as the Liberal candidate for Bendigo West,” he said.

Despite this, he doesn’t see his short campaign as a waste, and has already hinted at putting his hand up for preselection for the federal Liberal Party with the federal election approaching.

“I’ve had a lot of support,” he said.

“We’ve got a small dedicated group of volunteers.”

Update 9.42pm: Premier Daniel Andrews was all smiles as he made his way through a throng of Labor Party supporters at Village Green, in Mulgrave Melbourne to claim a stunning victory in the Victoria state election. 

“A short while ago I spoke with Matthew Guy and he graciously conceded Labor would form a strong, stable majority government,” Mr Andrews said.

“Friends, the people of Victoria have today overwhelmingly endorsed a positive future for the state.” 

He said they had “endorsed the removal of 75 level crossings. Endorsed properly funding our hospitals and schools. They’ve endorsed creating more jobs and funding TAFE properly”.

Mr Andrews said the public had also endorsed the biggest infrastructure road and rail program in the state’s history. 

He said they have “in record number, at the same time, rejected the low road of fear and division. And for that I am very, very proud”

Mr Andrews said that “none of us get to this position on our own”, thanking his colleagues, staff, volunteers and family for their support. 

He said that James Merlino would continue as Deputy Premier. 

“We are the most progressive government in the nation. We are the most progressive state in the nation. We live our values, we keep our promises and we get things done,” he said.

“The next four years will be about delivering for all Victorians.”

Update 9.30pm: Premier Daniel Andrews in a few minutes will address the faithful after a resounding re-election to a second term. 

Update 9.25pm: The ABC has called the seat of Ripon for Sarah de Santis, who is 900 votes ahead.

Update 9:10pm: It looks like being as win by Sarah de Santis in Ripon could add to Labor’s seat tally. Ms De Santis currently has 9181 vote, with incumbent member Louise Staley on 8261.

However the race is still too close to call  with just over 50 per cent of the votes counted.

It would be part of a statewide swing away from Liberal, with Labor picking up large swings in seats, including Bendigo East and Bendigo West. 

Update 9pm: Opposition Liberal leader Matthew Guy has conceded the election, saying that he had phoned premier-elect Daniel Andrews and congratulated him on what had been a “stunning night” for the Labor Party.

Addressing party faithful and the media, the Liberal leader said the party still expected to win some seats, but that this would not change the result nor detract from Labor’s win.

Mr Guy said tthat hey had campaigned on issues that mattered to Victorians, including the cost of living, congestion and decentralising population. “It isn’t sustainable to keep growing Melbourne as it is,” he said

He offered “sincere commiserations” to the candidates who were not relected and their family and friends who had supported them.

Mr Guy called for unity in the party under trying circumstances.

“As a party we need to stick together, we need to stay united. I hope we can continue to do that,” he said

“Tonight is clearly not our night. For everybody who voted for us I say thank you. “And while tonight is not our night, I acknowledge that, our time in the sun will come again.”

Update 8:57pm: Labor has extended its lead, with its seats now  at 51 with 37.3 per cent of the vote counted. 

Update 8:54pm:  The ABC is interviewing Federal Liberal Deputy Leader Josh Frydenburg and asks how much responsibility the National Liberal party has to take for the rout given the leadership upheavals in the party in the past six months. He said the election was fought on state issues, not federal. No none, is basically what he is saying. 

Update, 8:40pm Labor has declared victory in both Bendigo seats.

“We are an awesome Bendigo Labor team”,  Bendigo East winner Jacinta Allan said, thanking volunteers who had “put on the red shirt” and gotten out there. Ms Allan said getting out there and talking about local issues” had paid off. She said that today’s result had “exceeded our expectation”. 

She also thanked party leader Daniel Andrews.

“He’s a fantastic leader, a fantastic premier and he is backing us here in Bendigo,” she said.

Ms Allan said that both Maree Edwards (Bendigo West) and herself would ensure Bendigo remained on the map.

She also said that her four-year-old son had said: “Mum, the Liberals are going to have to find a new leader”, to cheers and claps from the crowd.

Ms Allan said it was a “true Labor night” and it would be back to work on Monday. 

Update 8:35pm: Let’s have another look at Bendigo East, where with 51.89 per cent of the count completed Jacinta Allan is romping away with 9695 votes. It’s a close call for second, however, with Ian Ellis (Liberals) on 3392 and Gaelle Broad (Nationals) on 3222.

Update 8:32pm: Labor’s Maree Edwards continues to pull away in Bendigo West, currently sitting on 9544 votes with 54.49 per cent of the vote counted. Her nearest rival, Kevin Finn (Liberal) is on 4377.

Update, 8:30pm: In Ripon Sarah De Santis (Labor) is riding the crest of the Labor wave, moving ahead of Louise Staley (Liberal) 5174 to 4820.

Questions are being raised on the ABC about the future of the Liberal Party leadership given the rout this election has delivered. 

Update 8:26pm: The Age has called the election for Labor with 48 seats – 45 were needed. The Liberal National coalition is a long way behind with 14 seats. So far the Greens haven’t won a seat. There are still 25 seats to call as the count continues. 

Update 8:18pm: The atmosphere at the Liberal Party post-election gathering at Mollison Street is sombre as the result comes in, with big swings to Labor in both Bendigo seats. 

Update: 8:15pm. The swing towards Labor, which has swept Daniel Andrews back into power, has been seen in Bendigo. In Bendigo West, Labor has picked up an 8.7 per cent swing with 36.8 per cent of the count completed. In Bendigo East is it a 7.7 per cent swing with 31.7 per cent of the vote counted. 

Let’s recap the result statewide with 26.4 per cent of the vote counted.  Words like “whitewash” are being used to describe the result in favour of Labor.

The Labor Party has 43.2 per cent of the vote, a swing of 5.3 per cent with the Liberals follwing on  29.3 per cent, which is a fall of 7.1 per cent. The Nationals with 6.6 per cent of the vote have picked up a 1 per cent swing while the Greens with 10.6 per cent, have seen a drop in support of -0.9 per cent.  Other parties have picked up 4.7 per cent of the vote  (a -0.4 per cent swing) and independents  5.5 per cent, which is a swing of 2.1 per cent . 

Update, 7:58pm: In Bendigo East Jacinta Allan (Labor) continues to pull away, with 3964. Her nearest rival, Gaelle Broad (Nationals) is on 1520.

Likewise in Bendigo West, where Labor’s Maree Edwards IS storming home on 7730, more than double Kevin Finn (Liberal) who is in second with 3548

The gap is narrowing in Ripon, where Louise Staley (Liberal) leads on 3092 from Sarah De Santis (Labor) who is on 3013. The rest of the field are way behind the leading contenders, with votes in the mid 500s and fewer. 

Update, 7:50pm: With around 10 per cent of votes in Bendigo East countered, Greens candidate Nakita Thomson is sitting on eight per cent. 

Update, 7:45pm: With just under a quarter of the votes in Bendigo West counted Maree Edwards (Labor) leads on 5534, Kevin Finn (Lib) is econd with 2553, Laurie Whelan (Greens) has 1526 and Marilyn Nuske (Animal Justice Party) 668.

In Bendigo East, Jacinta Allan (Labor) continues to poll strongly, leading with 2331 from Gaelle Broad (Nationals) on 1071. Following them are Ian Ellis (Liberals) on 862, Nakita Thomson (Greens) 389 and Helen Leach (Labour DLP) 95.

In Ripon, it’s neck and neck, with Louise Staley (Libs) 2682 and Sarah De Santis (Labor) 2509.

Update 7:30pm: Labor’s Maree Edwards on 3759 continues to pull away from her nearest rivals, Kevin Finn  on 1471 just ahead of Laurie Whelan on 1178.

In Bendigo East Jacinta Allan is on 1765, Gaelle Broad 944, Ian Ellis 642, Nakita Thomson 285 and Helen Leach 78

Update, 7:20pm: In Bendigo West Maree Edwards (Labor) is pulling away from her rivals with 2140 votes. There’s a close race for second at present, with Kevin Finn (Lib) on 782 and Laurie Whelan (Greens) on 673.

In Bendigo East: Jacinta Allan (Labor) is on 1382 with Gaelle Broad (Nationals) next on 672.

In Ripon Louise Staley still holds the lead on 846, with Sarah De Santis (Labor) on 646. 

Update, 7:10pm: We’ve got results coming in for Bendigo East, with Jacinta Allan (Labor)  on 1078, Gaelle Broad (Nationals) on 420 and Ian Ellis (Liberal) on 402. Nakita Thomson (Greens) in on 206 and Helen Leach (Labour DLP)  45. 

Update, 7:02pm: It’s a close race in Ripon. Louise Staley (Liberal) continues to hold the lead with 468, Sarah De Santis (Labor) is closing the gap on 389.

Update, 7.00pm: Discussing his party’s low-key presence in Bendigo this State Election, Liberal party member Ian Reid said “people are generally not interested in politics anymore”.

“You ask people a month ago, and most of them would have no idea when the election was,” he said.

“People don’t want to know anything about it.”

Mr Reid, who has been associated with the Liberal party for 63 years, admitted his party had struggled to find appropriate candidates to challenge incumbent Labor MPs in both Bendigo seats.

The Liberals announced Kevin Finn as a candidate in October after months of discussions with other individuals.

Mr Reid said the standard of politics had to improve in order to pique the general public’s interest.

“I’m not just talking about specific political parties here, but this is the lowest standard of politics I’ve seen in my time,” he said.

Update, 6:53pm: Still in Bendigo West, Maree Edwards (Labor) continues to poll strongly with 698 votes and Kevin Finn (Liberal) with 555 has pulled ahead of Laurie Whelan (Greens) 198. Marilyn Nuske (Animal Justice Party) has 81 votes. 

We’re still waiting for the first tallies to come in from Bendigo East. 

In Ripon, Louise Stanley continues to lead her political rivals with 295 votes.

Update, 6:46pm: First results in Bendigo West has Maree Edwards (Labor) with 317 leading from Laurie Whelan (Greens) on 109.

Update, 6.44pm: First results in Ripon have Louise Stanley (Liberal) in the lead with 57 votes from Sarah De Santis (Labor) with 30. There’s a long way night ahead before a result is expected on one of the key seats.

Update, 6pm:  Polls are closed and the counting is about to start. Keep an eye on our rolling coverage for results coming in from the Victorian Electoral Commission during the evening

Update 5.55pm: The Bendigo Advertiser caught up with three of the candidates for Bendigo West with polls set to close at 6pm.

Liberal candidate Kevin Finn said he had enjoyed his 45-day campaign and would consider nominating for preselection for next year’s federal election.

He said it was incorrect to say the Liberal Party faced little chance in the seat.

“It’s important to listen to people from across the board,” Mr Finn said.

“The issues people have raised with me include cost-of-living, transport, law and order.

“A lot of people have made positive comments about our policies.”

Greens candidate Laurie Whelan said he expected incumbent Labor MP Maree Edwards to win the seat, but hoped the Greens could increase their primary vote.

“If we can start to get up there, that’ll be pleasing,” he said.

“It was great to see so many Greens volunteers out for Bendigo West, we managed to cover almost every booth.”

Labor volunteers in Golden Square said they were not taking the seat for granted, while Ms Edwards said she had received a lot of grassroots support for her campaign.

Update 5.40pm: The Age has reported ”a Nine/Galaxy exit poll is predicting a 3 per cent swing to Labor in today's election.  That will certainly make one side pretty happy”.

Update, 5.10pm: Less than an hour to go until the polls close and the VEC is still in the voting spirit. Meme anybody? Fist pump for those who have already voted! It’s the sprint to the finish line now.

Update, 4.45pm: 

Liberal candidate for Bendigo East Ian Ellis said his dislike for the Labor Party and his inclination toward politics began in 2016, when a commute from Kilmore to the police academy in Glen Waverley took close to two hours.

He said Labor’s decision to scrap the East West Link at a cost of more than $1.1 billion was “mind boggling” and got his political juices flowing.

His career as a policeman was winding down earlier this year when he was approached by the Liberal party to run as a candidate.

“I hadn’t put much thought into it before that but it didn’t take me long to make up my mind,” he said, while handing out last minute how to vote cards at at Sailors Gully voting booth.

The Liberals have been accused of running a one-dimensional law and order campaign in the lead up to the State Election. 

But Mr Ellis said his pitch to voters has covered a range of issues, including public transport, housing, and congestion.

In September, Mr Ellis reignited debate on a ring road for Bendigo, which he argued would reduce congestion in CBD.

Read more: Liberal candidate for Bendigo East Ian Ellis pushes ring road west of city

Mr Ellis hoped a combined effort with Nationals candidate Gaelle Broad would be enough to oust incumbent Labor MP Jacinta Allan. 

Democratic Labour Party candidate for Bendigo East Helen Leach said she had fulfilled an ambition she’d held since 2008 in challenging Jacinta Allan.

“I want to get her out,” she said.

The former Bendigo councillor announced her candidacy in mid-October.

Read more: Democratic Labour Party names former Bendigo councillor Helen Leach as 2018 Bendigo East candidate

Update, 4pm: Polling booths have slowed down after hitting their peak mid-morning.

Victorian Electoral Commission staff member Gayle Freemantle said they had a line out the door at Golden Square Primary School from 10.30am until lunch time.

“It was maybe 40 or 50 metres long at the busiest time,” she said.

Gayle has been a VEC staff member for seven years. She has assisted with two federal elections, two state elections and a local council election.

“It's crucial people have their say,” she said. “If you want some control of how your life might go, you have to vote.

“What the government decides affects aspects of your life, if you want a say in that, you have to vote.”

Update, 3.50pm: Out in Sailors Gully Matt Goldsmith, 19, and Holly Gleeson Brown, 18, were voting in their first state election.

They were also volunteering with The Greens party.

“My family mostly have the same views, so we thought we'd lend a hand and help out,” Matt said.

“As a young person, I think (The Greens) share most of my views and have my interests at heart.”

Matt said he has always had an interest in politics.

“I have followed it enough to have the basic policies down and know what each party (stands for). 

“As young people, we're going to be living with the choices that are being made now. So it's important that we have some knowledge about whats going on.”

For people who have yet to vote today there’s still time – polling booths close at 6pm.

Update, 3.45pm:  A campaign that began in March is nearing a conclusion for Bendigo East Nationals candidate Gaelle Broad.

“Look how far we’ve come. Eight months ago we started from the bottom,” she said.

The equivalent of around 250 people have helped Ms Broad throughout her self-described “grass roots” campaign. 

“I’ve got to know my community a lot better throughout my campaign, and that’s the main thing I’ll take from this, regardless of the result,” she said.

Ms Broad’s journey to political campaigning has not been a direct one since she studied politics at university close to 20 years ago.

“People have been telling me for a while I should give it a go, and I’m glad I have,” she said.

It was tough competing with the weight of volunteer numbers and advertising budget of the Labor party, Ms Broad said, but she thanked the numerous local donors and those who’ve put signs up on their property.

Ms Broad said her campaign was about “providing voters with a choice rather than a battle”, in what has been a particularly friendly battle for the seat of Bendigo East.

“This is not about other people, it’s about the issues that matter most to the people in the electorate,” she said.

Update 1:48pm It’s great to see democracy in action. There’s still time to vote. And if you haven’t had a chance to grab some lunch, maybe a tasty sausage or two. Hold the onions. 

Update, 12.15pm: And we thought it was cold in Bendigo this week! Thank goodness it’s going to be a mild, partly cloudy 22 degrees in Bendigo today – comfortable weather to line up to vote. Meanwhile, it’s a bit chilly at some other polling booths...

Update, 11.35am: The smell of democracy has come in many forms this morning. 

There are countless barbecues offering a democracy sausage but at Strathfieldsaye there is also the offer of democracy cakes and democracy plants.

Volunteer Marcie Franke said the Strathfieldsaye Uniting Church team sold about half their stock by mid morning.

“It’s fundraising for the community church and we have been encouraging people to come over which has been good.

At Holy Trinity Church in Flora Hill Doug Harrison and John Cooper have been turning sausages since 7am.

“It’s something a little different to do on election day,” Doug said. “It’s surprising how quick the sausages go.”

Update, 11.25am: Incumbent Member for Bendigo East Jacinta Allan voted in Flora Hill earlier this morning.

Ms Allan cast her vote at the Holy Trinity Church in Keck Street, which has a significant meaning for her.

“I'm from a proud Bendigo Labor family and my father and his father, for 60 years, looked after the Flora Hill booth on behalf of the Labor Party on election day,” she said.

“So I’m proud to be here with my mum, dad, husband and kids to vote in Bendigo East.

“Politics is an interesting profession, you’re out in public every day and I think it's a real honour and privilege to be Member for Bendigo East. It's a terrific job.”

Ms Allan said she had received positive feedback from voters today.

“There’s been great response to Labor's positive agenda for Bendigo,” she said.

“We'll see once polls close at 6pm, that will be the ultimate determination but the feedback so far has been really positive.”

Update, 11am: Great to see the community getting into the spirit of election day. We love this little gem from Kennington Primary School. Nothing like a democracy day sausage to bring the community together – but we reckon those egg and bacon rolls sound pretty good, too!

The folks at Quarry Hill PS are also doing a great job on the barbecue. Who else is fundraising today? 

Update, 10.30am: Early voting closed at 6pm yesterday, with a record 1,388,799 choosing to vote in the days ahead of today’s state election.

In 2014, that number was 912,967. 

The VEC received 250,403 postal votes up until close of business yesterday.

In Bendigo East, 16,227 people voted early and the VEC received 1170 postal votes.

In Bendigo West, 12,813 placed early votes and the VEC received 1349 postal votes.

Macedon saw 9964 vote early and 2059 postal votes, Murray Plains 12,281 early voters and 1055 postal votes.

In Ripon, 7668 voted early and the VEC received 1687 postal votes.

Update, 10am: Here’s a little bit of early advice from the Victorian Electoral Commission. Where are the best snags in our region? 

UPDATE, Saturday 9.15am: Already a steady stream of voters is filling polling booths across the region.

Nationals volunteer Alison Gillett has been at Bendigo Town Hall since 7.15am.

“I’ve never done this before, but it was Gaelle as a candidate that made me want to get involved,” she said. “She’s a community-minded person who will be great for Bendigo East.”

Greens candidate Nakita Thomson voted at the Bendigo town hall this morning.

It was the second time the 22-year-old had voted in a state election.

She said seeing her name on the ballot on election day was surreal.

“It’s a bit weird, I feel like I’m in a simulation that’s not real,” she said.

“This election has been very different for me. (Last state election) I didn’t think about politics too much but this one I am obviously running as a candidate.”

ON SATURDAY, people across Victoria will converge on polling booths to cast their vote on which party should lead the state government for the next four years.

Whether you’re a politics buff or you’re quickly brushing up on which party is which ahead of voting, this guide should help you out.

Learn more: Party policies become clearer for Bendigo and regional Victoria

During the past fortnight, the Bendigo Advertiser met with candidates from the Bendigo East and Bendigo West electorates to ask them questions from our readers.

Bendigo East

Video:

On November 13, the six candidates contesting Bendigo East at the state election answered questions on a range of local topics including mental health, public transport, jobs, poverty, education and power prices.

Labor MP Jacinta Allan holds the seat on a margin of 5.05 per cent, placing it among the more marginal seats in regional Victoria.

She faces a challenge from Liberal candidate Ian Ellis, Nationals candidate Gaelle Broad, Greens candidate Nakita Thomson, Democratic Labour Party candidate Helen Leach and independent Michael Belardinelli.

Watch the full forum, filmed live, above or click here for the transcript.

Bendigo West

Video:

Incumbent Labor MP Maree Edwards, Liberal candidate Kevin Finn, Greens candidate Laurie Whelan and Animal Justice Party candidate Marilyn Nuske met on November 20.

Mr Finn claimed “crime was out of control in Victoria” and had a disagreement with Ms Edwards on crime figures and the number of front line police employed since Labor came to power in 2014.

What all candidates agreed on was the scourge that was family violence.

Watch the forum above or click here for the transcript.

With less than three weeks until the election, Bendigo was still waiting for key election promises, with other regional seats starting to see funding flow.

But as the state election campaign entered its final week, the policy priorities for Bendigo and regional Victoria were all but finalised.

Relive the campaign with our stories here:

Week one

Week two

Week three

Week four

Bendigo East Liberal and National candidates have both given Labour DLP candidate Helen Leach third preference, independent Michael Belardinelli fourth, Labor’s Jacinta Allan fifth, and Greens’ Nakita Thomson sixth.

The Greens put Labor as their second preference and Mr Belardinelli third, followed by Liberals candidate Ian Ellis fourth, Nationals candidate Gaelle Broad fifth, and Ms Leach sixth.

Labor preferenced Greens candidate Nakita Thomson (second) and Gaelle Broad (third).

In Bendigo West, Animal Justice Party candidate Marilyn Nuske received second preferences from the Greens and Liberals, and a third preference from Labor.

Bendigo West Greens candidate Laurie Whelan said Labor’s decision to put the Greens as second preference in Bendigo West was in exchange for the Greens’ preference support in Bendigo East. Read more about the preferences here.

With a slew of independent and other candidates across regional and rural Victoria, the Bendigo Advertiser’s expert political commentators and former premiers Steve Bracks and Denis Napthine go toe-to-toe on election eve to help you make sense of what has been a bruising – and long – campaign. Watch what they both had to say here.

Central Victoria is one of Australia’s most diverse regions.

From farming towns in the north and west to progressive communities in the south, and wine-making, apples, cattle and sheep all around, each town is unique and its residents have their own unique set of values.

To capture this – and with one eye on the looming state election on November 24 – the Bendigo Advertiser has visited, and will continue to visit, about 25 towns in our region. Read stories from across the region here.

Here’s where you can find where to vote across the region.

Have you signed up to the Bendigo Advertiser's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in central Victoria.