Hinkler and Wide Bay voters head to Fraser Coast pre-polls

Despite the gloomy and drizzly weather Hervey Bay and Maryborough’s pre-polling booths were buzzing on day one. Here’s how voters were leaning and what they had to say at local booths:

How-to-vote cards got soggy and voters damp as the pre-poll centres open on the Fraser Coast ahead of the May 21 election.

But despite patches of rainy weather in Hervey Bay and Maryborough, foot-traffic was consistent, with eager voters lining up in some pretty lengthy queues throughout the day.

In Maryborough, at the booth in Adelaide St, volunteers were readily assembled to hand out how to vote cards.

One one point, former state LNP candidate and current Fraser Coast Councillor Denis Chapman was on hand to give out how-to-vote cards for incumbent MP Llew O’Brien.

Former state LNP candidate and current Fraser Coast Councillor Denis Chapman was on hand to give out how-to-vote cards for incumbent MP Llew O’Brien.

There was heavy rain at times, but a steady stream of voters headed to the booths to have their say ahead of election day on May 21.

An exit poll of 100 people at Maryborough saw 47 votes go to the LNP, 32 to Labor and the rest were split between the Greens, UAP, One Nation and two independent candidates.

The poll was carried out by the Chronicle as part of News Corp’s nationwide election coverage where journalists have quizzed voters at more than 80 pre-poll booths.

One voter, Gary Stone, was at the Maryborough pre-poll centre on Monday.

He said he had voted Labor his whole life.

“My father was a union man,” he said.

Some voters admitted to casting donkey votes, while one man said he was frustrated by preference voting, adding he just wanted to cast a vote for one candidate.

Kathryn Wilkes, a long-time campaigner against the Cashless Debit Card, was also at the Maryborough centre for a short time, saying she was there to give people “information” about the card, which had been introduced in the neighbouring Hinkler electorate.

The Chronicle also conducted an exit poll at the pre-polling booth for Hinkler at the Hervey Bay Citizens Club on 28 Totness Street.

Out of the 104 voters who contributed to the exit-poll, the overwhelming early support was for the Liberal National Party (LNP) at 53%.

Based on the exit poll, 56 voted for LNP, 19 for the Australian Labor Party, three for the United Australia Party, five for One Nation, five for the Greens, and 16 for independent Jack Dempsey.

The busiest time of the day at the Totness Street booth was in the morning with lines extending from the entrance of the citizens centre into the car park.

Dozens of volunteers took shifts throughout the day handing out flyers.

Jillian Lee and Reg Gillian handing out flyers for LNP at the Hervey Bay Citizens Centre.

Reg Gillian has been handing out flyers for LNP since 2003.

“I like to look at it and say that if I agree with something, why not turn around and show that I agree with it, rather than sit back and wait for somebody and then it’s all wrong?” Mr Gillian said.

“If you believe in something, you’ve got to do it.”

While Mr Gillian noted there was still another debate to go and almost two weeks before the election, he said pre-pollers are the voters who had already made up their mind.

“I think, in a way, those people who voted early, have already made up their mind with who they want to vote for …”

When it came to the volunteers working for the different parties, it was clear to Mr Gillian they all seemed to have one thing in common.

“Most of us, we all get on pretty well because we’re all out doing a job for what we believe in,” he said.

“And it’s no good being angry with people, because that’s their beliefs, that’s what a democracy is about.”

Terina Lawrence-Berne was handing out flyers for ALP.

She also added it was good to see people supporting their cause regardless of their political affiliations.

“It’s very good that you know regardless of the political affiliation, people are here to support their cause and to just let the public know, you know, that there’s people out there who are trying to do the right thing.”

Paul Morrell and Lynette Roe were handing out flyers for United Australia Party at the Totness Street booth.

Towards the entrance of the citizens centre, independent candidate Jack Dempsey was also handing out how to vote flyers to voters.

It is still early days with pre-polling continuing during the week at both booths.