Australian Labor Party members have been granted an extension of time to get their votes in for the ALP's inaugural rank and file leadership ballot.
Federal Labor leadership contenders Anthony Albanese and Bill Shorten asked for the extension to ensure no one missed out, and the national executive granted it on Thursday.
Rank and file members are now required to return their completed voting papers by the close of business next Friday.
Both candidates were concerned a slow mail-out in some areas meant people in regional areas might miss out, so they sought a two-day extension.
"I am aware West Australian members have not yet received their ballot papers," Mr Albanese, who's from the Left faction, said in a statement.
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Some 44,000 grassroots Labor members are for the first time participating in the election of the party's federal parliamentary leadership.
Their voice will be equally weighted against a poll of federal caucus members on October 10.
Pushing back the ALP members' voting deadline wouldn't change plans for the October 10 caucus vote, Mr Shorten said.
Guidelines stipulate caucus must vote without knowing the outcome of the membership ballot.
"We have a bit of room to move in terms of members of the party being able to get their ballot papers in a couple of days longer than was otherwise scheduled," Mr Shorten said.
The ALP should also still be on track to declare the winner on October 13, as planned.
