IT could be at least 10 days before the "maverick" seat of Indi is decided, with pre-poll and postal votes to decide incumbent Sophie Mirabella's fate.
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AEC returning officer Jenny Essex said a seat is defined as "maverick" when the results go against the anticipated two-party preferred outcome.
In Indi's case, an AEC state manager instructed that, based on historical data for the electorate, the two-party preferred result would be between the Liberal and Labor parties, who would battle it out on preferences.
But this election, the two parties named are not the two preferred candidates based on primary votes.
"We'll probably get closer to an indication a week-and-a-half away," Ms Essex said.
"We're waiting for all the postal votes to come in ... we can't say they've all been counted until 13 days post-polling."
AEC spokesman Steve Kennedy said addiitonal scrutineers were being sent up tomorrow morning to help with the count.
Mrs Mirabella has held the seat since 2001 but could yet be one of the rare casualties as the Tony Abbott-led Coalition swept to power last night.
As of 1.30am today, Mrs Mirabella had claimed 44.36 per cent of the vote, with independent challenger Cathy McGowan on 32.18 per cent.
But with ALP and Greens preferences flowing to Ms McGowan, the Coalition frontbencher leads 52 per cent to 48 per cent.
