Premier Anna Bligh has cast her vote on what she says is a “tough day” for the Queensland Labor Party.
Ms Bligh voted at West End State School flanked by her husband Greg Withers and son Oliver, who is celebrating his 19th birthday and voting for the first time.
He said his mum was “the best candidate” in South Brisbane and he would spend the day driving her around to polling booths while she hands out sandwiches.
Ms Bligh’s other son, Joseph, 24, is staffing a booth in Ashgrove.
Both boys went to the school where their mum voted.
After visiting 50 electorates this week in a gruelling campaign schedule, Ms Bligh said she was feeling good.
“I’ve loved every minute of it,” she told reporters.
“I’m feeling great today, I love election day.
“There is a lot of energy around.”
Polls point to that energy giving the Liberal National Party (LNP) a landslide victory, reducing Labor to as few as 12 seats.
But Ms Bligh said she had no regrets about her campaign, which was heavy on attacks on LNP leader Campbell Newman’s integrity.
“This is a very tough day and a tough election for the Labor party,” she said.
“I know what the polls are saying.
“But you don’t give up until every last vote has been cast and that’s what I will be doing and what I know my candidates will be doing.”
The premier continued to urge undecided Queenslanders to vote Labor if they care about education, job security and the environment.
Ms Bligh said she spoke to prime minister Julia Gillard on Friday and had the support of federal and interstate politicians.
“We are a great Labor family nationally and I’ve had a lot of support from people,” she said.
Former premier Peter Beattie told ABC Radio Ms Bligh had his sympathies as she braced for the wipeout.
“She’s going to lose today and that’s a terrible feeling,” he said.
“A lot of people don’t understand what it’s like for the leader to … go into an election and lose badly, which she will.
“That’s very difficult and I have enormous sympathy for how she feels today.”
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