Vote 2016: So what happens now?

The federal election result was too close to call when counting wrapped up at 2am on Sunday morning, and the country is still on tenterhooks waiting for news of who will govern for the next three years.

Voters cast their ballot papers at Mount Alexander College in Travancore, Melbourne. Source: AAP

In a statement the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) detailed what was set to happen on Sunday and Monday before voting counting could resume.

 

This included unpacking, sorting and returning more than one million postal and absentee votes to their home electorates.

 

"The AEC's focus today, Sunday, July 3, is on the declaration vote exchange," the statement said.

 

"The declaration vote exchange is where the large numbers of absent, interstate, postal and other declaration votes are reconciled, sorted and packaged ready for dispatch to the home division from Monday.