'How do you run out of ballot papers?': Queensland double by ...

About 1.1 million Queenslanders voted at 160 early voting centres across the state in the last two weeks and more than 7000 staff worked at 1000 polling booths today, according to the Electoral Commission of Queensland (ECQ).

However, there were reports of ballot papers running out at some booths and lengthy queues, prompting some voters to give up.

Former LNP lord mayor (and Queensland premier) Campbell Newman took to social media to slam the organisation around the day.

"What sort of operation are the ECQ running when at 3.20pm the Bonney Ave Clayfield booth runs out of ballot papers?," he wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.

"Adding insult to injury, the ECQ staff seemed incapable of proactively and efficiently arranging for more ballots to be provided as people waited for over 30 minutes.

"How do you 'run out of ballot papers' two and a half hours prior to the close of voting? Not good enough."

And while an ECQ spokesperson told 9news.com.au "most queue times reported to be 15 minutes or less", locals said they experienced wait times of over an hour in some locations, with some people reportedly jumping out of the queue and ready to "cop the fine" for doing so, according to the ABC.

ECQ confirmed they were able to replenish ballot papers and said they received very few reports of issues at booths.

They also noted that they used data from recent Queensland and federal elections to determine staffing requirements.

"Election day is the busiest single day of voting, and we thank Queenslanders for their patience when there are queues, and courtesy when dealing with our staff," a spokesperson said in a statement.

"The ECQ will be reviewing data and turnout numbers from today to inform planning for election day for the State general election in October."

By-elections

The two by-election results will give both the state government and the opposition a lot to ponder ahead of the full state elections in October.

Inala, one of the electorates up for grabs in the by-election, was vacated by Palaszczuk when she stepped down in December.

Labor is likely to retain it barring a major upset, with its current margin of 28.2 per cent making Inala the safest Labor seat in Queensland.

Regardless of the result though, it will signify a major change.

Even a Labor win would signal the end of 40 years of Inala being represented in parliament by a Palaszczuk - recently the former premier, and before her, her father Henry.

Pundits expect a far tighter battle for the second seat going to the polls, Ipswich West.

Labor MP Jim Madden has represented the electorate since 2015, but will not contest the 2024 election.

Labor currently holds the seat with a margin of 14.3 per cent but the electorate has a history of big swings, despite Labor holding it for the vast majority of elections.

Under the 2012 victory of LNP leader Campbell Newman, Ipswich West also went to the LNP after a swing of more than 16 per cent.

And while by-elections are rarely mirrors for general elections, both Miles and opposition leader David Crisafulli recognise they have "mountains" to climb ahead of the October showdown.

Local government election

Meanwhile, counting is also underway in the Queensland council elections, as thousands vote to elect mayors and councillors in all corners of the state.

Voters have had their say on the tightly contested Brisbane City Council elections, along with councils across Queensland.

Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner is fighting off challenges from Labor's Tracey Price and the Green's candidate Johnathan Sriranganathan.

The fate of 77 councils across the state and all their mayors and councillors will become clearer later tonight.