Thousands of votes outstanding in ALP poll
Ballot papers from just over half of Labor's grassroots members have reached Canberra as the deadline looms for the party's rank and file to cast their votes for the ALP's new parliamentary leader.
Some 44,000 party members are entitled to vote in the poll, with interim leader Chris Bowen on Thursday confirming about 25,000 ballot papers had been returned.
"I assume we will see more coming in in coming days and also that's a pretty good return in any ballot, in any mail-out ... a pretty good participation rate in a non-compulsory process," Mr Bowen told ABC Radio on Thursday.
Voting papers must be returned by 5pm (AEDT) on Friday in keeping with a deadline which has already been pushed back by two days to allow rural and regional Labor members more time.
The rank and file vote will be equally weighted with a caucus vote, which is due to take place in Canberra on Thursday.
The winner will be announced on Sunday.
Candidate Bill Shorten has claimed majority support from caucus but Anthony Albanese could still get across the line with community backing, under the new voting system introduced by former prime minister Kevin Rudd.
Mr Bowen said party factions were not playing a part in the vote, with caucus and community members from both the right and left backing both candidates.
He described the month-long process as successful and having attracted hundreds of new Labor members.
"For a party to go from a significant election defeat forward to see an increase in branch membership is a very positive thing indeed," Mr Bowen said.
"People know that if they join now they don't get a vote but they may get a vote in some future leadership ballot and it's showing the Labor party cares about its members."
Labor's national president Jenny McAllister conceded that future community ballots may be conducted differently.
"This is the first time we've done something on this scale and of this significance, we've certainly made mistakes and we learn as we go, but overall I think it's been a pretty smooth process," she told ABC Radio.