Liberal Party candidate Ms Staley appears on track to win the marginal seat, however the substantial amount of pre poll votes still to be counted gives Labor Party candidate Mr McGlone cause for hope.

With just shy of 80 per cent of the vote counted, two party preferred Ms Staley (51.69 percent) led Mr McGlone (48.31 percent) by 1130 votes after preferences.

If Ms Staley is to hold on and win, it would be a rare but albeit bright outcome from what overall proved to be a dim night for the Denis Napthine lead Coalition.

The Liberals and their Coalition partner The Nationals were swept from Spring Street after just one term in government.

Ms Staley said she would be 'profoundly grateful and honoured' to have gained the people of Ripon's trust.

"I am optimistic, I would certainly like to be in my position, but I'm not ready to claim victory just yet," she said.

"The people of Ripon have recognised that Daniel Andrews has no plans for Ripon and they have sent a message that Labor doesn't understand these communities.

"They've recognised that we had done the work to truly understand what each community in Ripon needs."

Mr McGlone said he too would wait for further indications from the electoral commission before conceding defeat.

"I am maintaining neutrality, I am not conceding, but I'm not getting too excited either," he said.

"It is the proper process for me to wait until the pre poll and postal votes are counted and the electoral commission declares a winner."

Mr McGlone said the people of Ripon will be the big losers if Ms Staley maintains her lead and finishes in front.

"It is hard to see it any other way, you only have to look at how Joe Helper's term turned out for an indication on what it will be like," he said.

"Joe was an extremely effective and good member while Labor was in government, but completely hamstrung in opposition. One wonders if it would be any different this time around.

"I mean she might be able to make a bit of noise, but in terms of getting anything implemented I'm really not sure how effective she will be."

Ms Staley said she would continue to advocate for projects that communities have identified as vital.

"If I am fortunate enough to be successful, I will be a strong advocate for the projects put to me by the communities that are important to them," she said.

"Because we need to act on things such as the Stawell tyre dump and Ararat Active is a really important project.

"These are worthwhile things, I will be putting forward the case in the hope that Labor will embrace them."

Ms Staley said she will hold Labor to account.

"It is really important Labor delivers on all of their promises, I'll be on their back to make sure they deliver everything they promised," she said.

Casting his vote in Maryborough, Mr McGlone said the response from voters on polling day was positive.

"I think we've done pretty well, I'll be just disappointed if I don't get to carry on and work with communities on the various projects we had discussed," he said.

"I was looking forward to some of the employment projects, particularly the one in Stawell, which looked quite exciting."

Mr McGlone said the fact that the Labor Party will lead the state for the next four years was a stunning result.

"It is fantastic, it reflects a real dissatisfaction at the lack of action by the Napthine Government across the state," he said.

"It also sends a message to Canberra that people are fed up with a Federal Government that is dictating terms to them and doesn't even seem to be accountable to its own agenda."

On first preferences to date, Mr McGlone has 34.91 percent of the vote. Ms Staley sits second at 33.09 percent.

The National's candidate Scott Turner has received 19.14 percent of first preferences while The Greens' Rod May has picked up 6.70 percent.

Family First has accrued just 1.99 percent, the Democratic Labour Party 1.14 percent, Country Alliance 1.12 percent, Rise Up Australia 1.05 percent and Australian Christians 0.86 percent.

Mr Turner faired best in his native Ararat with more than a thousand first preferences cast his way between the two polling booths in that town.