EARLY postal and in person votes could help Liberal MP Jan Norberger retain his Joondalup seat.
While previous updates on the count suggested Labor candidate Emily Hamilton could win on a two-candidate preferred basis, this afternoon’s updates have given Mr Norberger a fractional lead.
The count for the electorate has almost reached 75 per cent, with more than 20,500 votes from a potential 27,495 tallied so far.
On preferences, Mr Norberger has 50.04 per cent, or 9816 votes, compared to Ms Hamilton’s 9801 votes at the latest WA Electoral Commission update.
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READ NOWThe Liberal has won more than 2000 of early votes counted so far, compared to almost 1700 won by his Labor rival.
The contest is also close in Kingsley, where almost 80 per cent, or 20,700 votes from a potential 26,096 electors, have been counted so far.
With 50.57 per cent of the vote under preferences, Labor candidate Jessica Stojkovski remains marginally ahead of Liberal MP Andrea Mitchell.