Australia‘s High Court has rejected two legal challenges to the centre-right coalition government’s proposed postal vote on whether to legalise same-sex marriage.

Australians will now begin voting in the non-compulsory ballot as early next week, with a result expected in November.

Opponents of the vote had argued the government needed the support of parliament to hold the ballot.

Recent opinion polls indicate two-thirds of Australians support same-sex marriage.

Should the public back same-sex marriage, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said Australia‘s Marriage Act would be changed by the end of the year.

Reuters