Tasmania is nearing a final election result, with the distribution of preferences to decide whether the incumbent Liberals will govern in majority.
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The party appears likely to gain a 13th seat required for a majority in the 25-member lower house following the poll on May 1.
Distribution of preferences began on Tuesday morning, with all eyes on the Hobart-based electorate of Clark where two Liberal candidates and two independents are jostling for two in-doubt seats.
Under Tasmania's Hare-Clark voting system, five MPs are elected in each of the state's five electorates.
Tasmania's electoral commissioner Andrew Hawkey expects a result in Clark to be known on Wednesday evening or Thursday morning.
"The last postals and some interstate (ballots) have come in. Clark is most likely goIng to be the first one completed," he told AAP.
Liberal Premier Peter Gutwein is confident of governing in majority and has pledged to step down in the event of a hung parliament.
One of two Liberal candidates, Simon Behrakis and former Labor MP Madeleine Ogilvie, are considered likely to be elected in Clark.
Popular mayor Kristie Johnston appears on track to pip fellow independent and former Liberal Speaker Sue Hickey for the other Clark spot.
However, a scenario where both Ms Johnston and Ms Hickey are elected, leaving the Liberals stuck on 12 seats, has not been ruled out.
Labor appears on track for nine seats, the same number it had when the election was called, while the Greens have retained their two.
In the northern electorate of Braddon, two Liberals, incumbent MP Roger Jaensch and the embattled Adam Brooks, are battling it out for the final seat.
Mr Brooks, a former state mining minister, has been accused of catfishing two women using a fake online dating profile with the name Terry.
He has denied the allegations and has flagged legal action against organisations and individuals he says deliberately misrepresented aspects of his personal life.
Mr Gutwein has stood by Mr Brooks, saying the people of Braddon would have the final say on whether he is fit to serve in parliament.
Tasmania went to the polls a year early after Ms Hickey quit the Liberals to run as an independent, plunging the government into minority.
Australian Associated Press
