The Ballarat East sitting member for the ALP easily held off Liberal candidate Geoff Hayes and Independent Dianne Hadden.

With 30,187 formal votes counted in 41 polling booths, Mr Howard polled 13,040 votes (43.20 per cent) with Mr Hayes his nearest competitor on 10,218 votes (33.85 per cent).

On the two candidate preferred vote, Mr Howard polled 16,991 votes (56.30 per cent) against Mr Hayes' 13,191 (43.70) per cent.

Greens candidate Michele Harvie polled 3391 votes (11.23 per cent), Ms Hadden 2015 votes (6.68 per cent) and Family First's Grace Bailey 1523 votes (5.05 per cent).

"I'm very pleased with the outcome and very relieved that it's passed," he said.

He put his success down to hard work and working positively with people.

"People generally believed the Bracks Government was delivering well," Mr Howard said.

He said he would get on with the job and continue to work with people.

"I will follow on with our promises," he said.

"I look forward to another four years."

During its election campaign, the ALP promised to build a new ambulance station and SES station in Daylesford, contribute $8 million to redevelop the Trentham nursing home and aid the co-location of the Community Health

Centre, as well as rebuilding the Trentham and District Primary School.

The ALP also won in Ballarat West, with Karen Overington beating Liberal candidate Shane Brennan, while the ALP's Joe Helper comfortably held on to Ripon.

Meanwhile, Independent MLC Dianne Hadden has announced she is quitting politics after failing to win the Ballarat East seat.