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Election 2022 live: Almost 1 million Australians cast early votes at pre-poll

Nothing can dampen the nation’s enthusiasm to cast a vote with early ballots set to hit the one million mark on day three of pre-polling, as we reveal who almost 7000 have voted for >>

Cas Garvey, Duncan Evans, Daniel Petrie, Hugo Timms, Sherele Moody, Alex Treacy, Aisling Brennan, Annie Lewis and Melanie Burgess
20 min read
May 12, 2022 - 10:51AM
NewsLocal
Australia votes early

It seems nothing can dampen the electorate’s enthusiasm to cast a vote with early ballots likely to hit the one million mark on day three of pre-polling.

After two days of voting, Australian Electoral Commission data revealed 646,709 votes had been cast with AEC voting centres experiencing twice the volume of ballots compared to the 2019 poll.

Heavy rain in Queensland has not deterred voters, with central and northern parts of the state copping the brunt of a system that has dumped more than 100mm of rain in the last 24 hours.

READ MORE: Why 1 in 20 votes won’t count this election

Candidates citing cost-of-living and housing concerns will need to be alert to the building approvals data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics set for release mid-tomorrow.

The housing and supply crisis is the immediate challenge facing the 47th parliament in 2022.

Over the first three days of pre-polling, News Corp reporters spoke to 6939 Aussies as they left the ballot box.

Here is how they voted:

QUEENSLAND

Reporters were stationed at booths across 18 electorates, including Blair, Bowman, Capricornia, Dawson, Fairfax, Fisher, Flynn, Griffith, Groom, Herbert, Hinkler, Kennedy, Leichhardt, Lilley, McPherson, Moncrieff, Petrie and Wide Bay.

Among the 2552 people who were happy to share their first preference vote, 48 per cent favoured LNP and 31 per cent favoured the ALP. The Greens were next in line with about 6 per cent, but Pauline Hanson’s One Nation was not far behind with 5 per cent.

A voter arrives to a voting centre at the Homebush West Community centre in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
A voter arrives to a voting centre at the Homebush West Community centre in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

NEW SOUTH WALES

Reporters were stationed at booths across 23 electorates, including Berowra, Cook, Cowper, Cunningham, Fowler, Gilmore, Grayndler, Hughes, Hume, Kingsford Smith, Macarthur, McKellar, Newcastle, North Sydney, Lismore, Page, Parkes, Parramatta, Riverina, Robertson, Ryde, Wentworth and Whitlam.

Among the 2138 people who were happy to share their first preference vote, 42 per cent favoured the LNP and 32 per cent favoured the ALP. About 11 per cent put their number 1 in an independent candidate’s box.

VICTORIA

Reporters were stationed at booths across 15 electorates, including Ballarat, Bendigo, Casey, Chisholm, Corangamite, Deakin, Flinders, Indi, Kooyong, Lalor, La Trobe, Mallee, McEwen, Monash and Wannon.

Among the 1448 people who were happy to share their first preference vote, 42 per cent favoured LNP and 33 per cent favoured the ALP. Independent candidates attracted more first-preference votes than the Greens, at 11 per cent and 6 per cent, respectively.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Reporters were stationed at booths in the electorates of Barker, Boothby and Sturt.

Among the 299 people who were happy to share their first preference vote, 53 per cent favoured the LNP and 30 per cent favoured the ALP. The Greens and Pauline Hanson’s One Nation picked up about 8 per cent and 4 per cent of first-preference votes among surveyed voters, respectively.

TASMANIA

Reporters were stationed at a booth covering the electorates of Bass and Braddon.

Among the 100 people who were happy to share their first preference vote, 41 per cent favoured LNP and 21 per cent favoured the ALP.

NORTHERN TERRITORY

Reporters were stationed at booths in the electorates of Solomon and Lingiari.

Among the 300 people who were happy to share their first preference vote, 38 per cent favoured the ALP and 35 per cent favoured the LNP. About 11 per cent of surveyed voters gave their first preference to The Greens.

THE ACT

A reporter was stationed at a booth covering the electorates of Canberra and Fenner.

Among the 102 people who were happy to share their first preference vote, 50 per cent favoured the ALP and 24 per cent favoured The Greens, just nudging out the LNP (23 per cent) as the number two party among surveyed voters.

>> Find a pre-polling booth: Full list of where you can vote early before May 21

Follow the blog below for the updates from the first three days of pre-polling...

ACT: Slow start for Hume and Whitlam

Wednesday, May 11: A pre-poll booth for the Hume and Whitlam divisions at the Bowral Senior Citizens Centre started out fairly slow on the first day, with the wet weather no doubt being a contributing factor. However, the pace (and the weather) picked up on Tuesday, with locals also being more keen to chat.

SA: Liberal incumbent’s pre-poll numbers stronger than ALP

Mount Gambier’s day three pre-poll voting seems to be slowing, but journalist Arj Ganesan reports Liberal incumbent Tony Pasin is attracting more than half of the pre-poll vote.

Labor was around early on Wednesday, with representatives handing out how to vote cards before they left for some hours.

SA: Vandals target ‘black face’-linked candidate

A candidate whose posters have been defaced during the election campaign believes the vandalism could be retribution for a “black face” controversy her husband was embroiled in.

One Nation’s Spence candidate Linda Champion has had six of her 200 signs defaced during her self-funded campaign.

Ms Champion said there was a chance one instance, where her face was spray painted black, could have been a slight in the wake of images of her husband in “black face” in 2012 emerging online.

Read more here.

QLD: Corflute kerfuffle in Gympie

Early voters in the Wide Bay have so far turned back towards the major parties with the LNP and Labor candidates drawing more than three quarters of first preference votes on day one of pre-polling.

An exit poll of 300 voters, carried out by NewsCorp on the first day of voting across the Maryborough, Gympie and Noosa booths, revealed incumbent LNP candidate Llew O’Brien was the early preferred choice of 51 per cent of voters.

Labor’s Geoff Williams was the next top pick of 27.3 per cent, with the Greens’ Craig Armstrong a distant third at 5.3 per cent.

Read more here.

Vic: How 100 Ballarat residents voted

Exit polling suggests Ballarat voters are favouring Labor in the federal election as thousands turn out to cast their ballot early.

Although election day is May 21, early voting began on Monday.

We asked 100 people at the Ballarat Showgrounds booth which party they listed as their first preference in the House of Representatives.

Of them, 53 said Labor, 36 said LNP, 10 said Greens, and one person said the Liberal Democrats.

Read more here.

QLD: United front as weather barges in

WHILE prepoll voting was tapering down in McPherson’s Burleigh Heads and Reedy Creek on Wednesday, the wild and woolly weather was ramping up across the Gold Coast.

At a Burleigh voting centre, there was a unified front from One Nation and United Australia Party representatives, who joined forces to stop an out-of-control gazebo from blowing away in the wind.

One Nation candidate for McPherson Kevin Hargreaves was seen stumbling in the bushes trying to hold it down as other representatives scrambled to help.

At Reedy Creek Baptist Church, where a slew of voters showed up on Monday – a Greens representative was spotted having a smoke break, with an LNP staffer chiming in “carbon emissions though”.

EARLIER:

The popularity of pre-poll voting hit a record on the first day of ballots being lodged, with the Australian Electoral Commission estimating a turnout of 300,000 on day one, more than the double the 120,000 who attended on day one in 2019.

A survey of pre-poll voters conducted by News Corp across regional and marginal electorates reflects a contest that remains tightly fought over cost-of-living pressure, housing and balancing industry transition with Australia’s climate commitment.

News Corp reporters spoke with 4000 voters at Monday’s pre-polling centres (1 in 100 first-day voters) to discuss voting intention and the issues that have most heavily resonated among their local electorates.

Voters in Queensland and New South Wales have not been deterred by the prospect of more ‘rain bombs’ landing in the coming week as cost of living and housing emerge as key themes for candidates to contend with.

In what was a very busy day for the Australian Electoral Commission, pre-poll ballots may yet reach 5 million, surpassing the previously held record of 4.3 million.

At the end of day two of pre-polling, News Corp reporters surveyed more than 5600 early voters across the country.

Based on this snapshot, voting in marginal electorates looks to be firming for the government, while the Australian Labor Party is recording good booth results in the seats of Dawson (Central Queensland) and Monash (Victoria).

Moncrief, which is typically a strong Liberal seat on the Gold Coast, is also showing a strong lean towards the ALP.

Australian Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg visits the pre-polling booth in Hawthorn, Melbourne, with former Premier of Victoria Ted Baillieu. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nicki Connolly
Australian Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg visits the pre-polling booth in Hawthorn, Melbourne, with former Premier of Victoria Ted Baillieu. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nicki Connolly

The first numbers out of the inner Melbourne electorate of Kooyong — a key seat of interest for election watchers — show treasurer Josh Frydenberg attracting the highest portion of first-preference votes, but independent candidate Dr Monique Ryan is not far behind. Only about one in 20 voters surveyed by our reporters at a Kooyong pre-polling booth gave their number 1 vote to Labor.

Mr Frydenberg was campaigning as fresh figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics cast a spotlight on the state of the Australian economy.

Retail spending hit $33.6 billion in March – up 1.6 per cent on February and an all-time record.

Day 2 voting numbers breakdown

QUEENSLAND

Reporters were stationed at booths across 18 electorates, including Blair, Bowman, Capricornia, Dawson, Fairfax, Fisher, Flynn, Griffith, Groom, Herbert, Hinkler, Hume, Kennedy, Leichhardt, Lilley, McPherson, Moncrieff, Petrie and Wide Bay.

Among the 2258 people who were happy to share their first preference vote, 48 per cent favoured LNP and 30 per cent favoured the ALP. The Greens were next in line with about 6 per cent, but Pauline Hanson’s One Nation was not far behind with 5 per cent.

NEW SOUTH WALES

Reporters were stationed at booths across 14 electorates, including Bennelong, Cook, Cowper, Cunningham, Gilmore, Grayndler, Hughes, Kingsford Smith, Macarthur, Page, Parkes, Parramatta, Riverina and Whitlam.

Among the 1404 people who were happy to share their first preference vote, 44 per cent favoured the LNP and 34 per cent favoured the ALP. About 5 per cent put their number 1 in an independent candidate’s box.

VICTORIA

Reporters were stationed at booths across 15 electorates, including Ballarat, Bendigo, Casey, Chisholm, Corangamite, Deakin, Flinders, Indi, Kooyong, Lalor, La Trobe, Mallee, McEwen, Monash and Wannon

Among the 1374 people who were happy to share their first preference vote, 41 per cent favoured LNP and 34 per cent favoured the ALP. Independent candidates attracted more first-preference votes than the Greens, at 11 per cent and 7 per cent, respectively.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Reporters were stationed at booths in the electorates of Boothby and Sturt.

Among the 199 people who were happy to share their first preference vote, 52 per cent favoured the LNP and 34 per cent favoured the ALP. The Greens picked up about 9 per cent of first-preference votes among surveyed voters.

NORTHERN TERRITORY

Reporters were stationed at booths in the electorates of Solomon and Lingiari.

Among the 200 people who were happy to share their first preference vote, 41 per cent favoured the LNP and 35 per cent favoured the ALP. One in 10 surveyed voters gave their first preference to The Greens.

TASMANIA

Reporters were stationed at a booth covering the electorates of Bass and Braddon.

Among the 100 people who were happy to share their first preference vote, 41 per cent favoured LNP and 21 per cent favoured the ALP.

THE ACT

A reporter was stationed at a booth covering the electorates of Canberra and Fenner.

Among the 102 people who were happy to share their first preference vote, 50 per cent favoured the ALP and 24 per cent favoured The Greens, just nudging out the LNP (23 per cent) as the number two party among surveyed voters.

QLD: Voting early in Far North

Far North Queensland early birds that swooped on the first day of pre-polling were some of the decisive voters in the region.

They were willing to take a punt a full fortnight before the end of the election campaign and its associated pledges — and they were willing to talk.

QLD_CP_NEWS_TARGA_03SEP21
QLD_CP_NEWS_TARGA_03SEP21

“I voted for the Liberal National Party because I’m happy with what they’ve been doing through the pandemic,” one voter said.

For the full wrap-up from FNQ, click here.

QLD: Libs favoured by older voters

A strong turnout of older and more decided voters on the first day of polling has favoured incumbent Garth Hamilton (LNP), who has drawn solid support in exit polling across two booths.

Of the 100 people anonymously surveyed outside the Toowoomba City early voting centre on Ruthven Street and another at the old council depot on Anzac Avenue, 53 of them said they had given their first preference to Mr Hamilton.

Labor’s Gen Allpass earned support from 19 respondents, while independent Suzie Holt finished third with 12 votes.

One Nation’s Grant Abraham was the only other candidate to hit double digits.

While the exit polling hardly predicts the outcome, it gives a strong indication of the LNP’s level of support among older residents.

Read more here.

SA: Libs take lead in South

South Australians turned out in force on day one of pre-polling, casting their votes at the first opportunity ahead of the 2022 Federal Election on May 21.

Thousands early voted in the highly contested seats of Boothby and Sturt with Messenger journalists polling 100 voters exiting both the Brighton and Marden booths.

Of 100 people interviewed at the Brighton Surf Life Saving Club, 51 voted for the Liberal Party while Labor trailed behind with 35 votes.

Eight placed their first preference with the Greens and independent Jo Dyer secured five.

For the full SA wrap-up, click here.

NT: Opinions divided in north

The NT’s two seats are showing opposite trends so far, following a poll of 100 early voters in each.

Australians happy to chat after leaving polling booths in Solomon, which centres on Darwin and Palmerston, have so far leaned towards Labor.

This seat has been held by Labor’s Luke Gosling since 2016, but he won by only a 3.1 per cent margin at the last election.

Meanwhile, the Coalition has been more popular at booths in Lingiari, which covers the rest of the territory.

Hundreds of people have already turned out to vote since pre-polls opened Monday, including many interstate travellers voting for their home electorates.

TAS: Alpaca joins oldest candidate

The residents of Braddon, who cannot vote on May 21, are keen to have their voice heard in the Federal election with a steady stream arriving at Devonport’s pre-poll centre from 8.30am on Monday.

A band of volunteers were there to hand out how-to-vote cards for the Liberal, Labor, Greens and Jacqui Lambie network while Braddon’s United Australia Party candidate Darren Bobbermein and Ludo Mineur from One Nation were there to hand out their own material.

Mr Mineur, who is thought to be the electorate’s oldest candidate at the age of 80, was accompanied by his trademark alpaca Pedro.

Ludo Mineur with his alpaca.
Ludo Mineur with his alpaca.

A former Liberal voter told the volunteer handing out how to vote flyers for Braddon MP Gavin Peare she “couldn’t do it this time.” before she headed in to vote.

An older gentleman on a walking stick said the “current crowd” had done nothing for pensioners.”

Others said they would be voting for the Liberal candidate based on fears the economy would suffer if they were voted out.

Electoral officials needed to come down to the cafe in the Paranaple Centre to help several people vote because they were unable to take the escalator or lift up to the third-floor pre-poll centre.

NSW: Kelly faces backlash over move

Thousands of voters lined up in a queue that snaked around the corner before casting their vote in a Miranda pre-poll booth.

Early voting opened on Monday morning with residents wanting to forgo election day lines, and their democracy sausage.

Residents in the electorates of Cook and Hughes opted to vote early in Kiora Mall rather than wait to listen to all announcements and campaigning in the final two weeks before the election on May 21.

In the electorate of Cook in southern Sydney, Prime Minister Scott Morrison had the support of constituents when 100 voters were asked for their vote in an exit poll on Monday, with many backing him to lead the country and their electorate for another three years.

That was an unsurprising result given the Cook electorate is deemed a very safe Liberal seat” with a margin of 19 percent.

Of the 100 voters surveyed, 54 selected Liberal National Party in the number one spot while 22 put Labor as their first preference in the House of Representatives.

The Greens secured 12 votes.

Hughes incumbent MP Craig Kelly received one vote of those surveyed. Kelly sparked controversy when he left the Liberal Party and voiced his views on COVID vaccines before he became the leader of the UAP.

One voter put Steele first and noted he put Kelly seventh, “because he couldn’t go any lower”.

Cook resident Felicity Giles said she voted for Labor rather than the independents, because despite doing her research, she didn’t have enough data on their policies or their voting preferences.

While Morrison got a vote from a man because “he goes for Cronulla Sharks”.

However another man said he had received help for people with special needs in the community from Morrison and he “liked him as a politician”.

Liberal candidate for Hughes Jenny Ware was put as the first preference for one voter who said “better the devil you know”.

For the full NSW state wrap from Day 1, click here.

NSW: Leader emerges among early voters

Despite the miserable weather, it was a busy start to pre polling at the Campbelltown Civic Centre as hundreds of residents lined up to cast their vote in the federal election.

Voters from the Hume and Macarthur seats had their say with data from day one of The Daily Telegraph’s snap pre-poll survey at the booth showing The Coalition running strong with 45 per cent of the vote ahead of Labor at 35 per cent.

Out of the 100 people surveyed, the Greens came in at nine per cent with the United Australia Party at four per cent, One Nation at three per cent and the Independents at three per cent.

Currently Liberal’s Angus Taylor holds the seat of Hume, while Labor’s Mike Freelander holds the seat of Macarthur.

Carl Bester has been a resident in Campbelltown for 15 years and describes himself as a “loyal” Labor voter.

“The Liberals always say ‘it’s not my job’,” he said.

“They take credit when it goes well and when things are bad they don’t take responsibility or accountability.

“It’s as simple as that. I think we need a change.”

Mr Bester moved from South Africa to Australia in 2007 and said he appreciated the Labor Government’s efforts in the Global Financial Crisis.

“Labor made sure we didn’t go into a recession. They kept Australia out of it,” he said.

“That’s one of the big reasons I continue to vote for them.

“I have had enough of The Coalition now. Let’s give Labor a chance now.”

Another Macarthur resident, who wished to remain anonymous, told NewsLocal that she was “fed up” with the two major parties.

“I couldn’t even bring myself to watch the debate,” she said.

“I have voted for a minority party because it’s time we had a change and it’s time they wake up.”

NSW: Liberal MP hits back at Albanese claims

A Liberal MP fighting a hotly contested race to retain his Sydney electorate has debunked claims he “won’t be seen” with Prime Minister Scott Morrison during the campaign trail.

Opposition leader Anthony Albanese used Sunday night’s leaders’ debate to claim North Sydney MP Zimmerman would not be seen with the PM during the lead up to this month’s election.

Read more here.

QLD: Crowded booth a ‘Covid cooker’

The early voting queue has blown out at the Mercury House booth in Dawson and voters are beginning to fume.

Husband and wife Geoff and Sue Kenniff stood in the middle of the line and queried why more staff hadn’t been put on.

“It’s really poor, why didn’t they have more booths?” Mr Kenniff asked.

No shade or water is on offer and elderly voters are in line.

“They need more people on inside,” Ivan Edwards said.

“They knew this was on.”

An AEC official emerged earlier to apologise for the long wait.

One voter, who wished to remain anonymous, said social distancing was absent and the booth was a “Covid cooker”.

QLD: Rain doesn’t keep early voters away

11.15am Monday: The polls are filling up in Boondall this morning despite the wet weather as residents cast their vote for the seat of Lilley.

The major parties are neck and neck, with the LNP holding it’s ground in the traditional ALP area.

As more and more residents flock to the polling booths, all parties will be continuing to put their best foot forward in the battle for what will surely be a close victory.

11am: Voting is back up and running in the seat of Fisher after a brief power outage at the Birtinya polling station.

AEC officials worked to get back online after a surge to the power box caused issues.

Electricians were quickly on the scene to fix the problem.

Voting has now resumed after the power was off for up to 45 minutes.

9am: Sunshine Coast pre-polling has already stumbled at its first hurdle after the main voting booth for the seat of Fisher lost power 40 minutes after opening.

The Eccles Blvd polling station in Birtinya was already facing a slow start to the first day of voting as heavy rain hit the Coast.

But what AEC officials weren’t expecting was to lose power to their computers despite the lights staying on in the vacant space at the Oceanside Car Park opposite Sunshine Coast University Hospital on Monday.

The AEC supervisor confirmed he was working with the building manager to reconnect the power as would-be voters were turned away after braving the wet.

One member of the public quipped in passing that the loss of electricity at the polling booth really did mean securing better power solutions really was a major election issue.

VIC: ‘Human Headline’ rolls in

Media personality-turned-politician Derryn Hinch, of Derryn Hinch’s Justice Party, was spotted at a pre-polling booth in the seat of Chisholm supporting party candidate Thomas Stanfield.

“I’ll spend the whole day (in Melbourne) and go around to some of the pre-poll booths,” he said.

Mr Hinch said he was glad the pre-poll period was shorter this election than last, although recalled the 2019 pre-polling as running for “four of five weeks” when it was actually three.

“Two weeks is exactly what it should be,” he said.

“It’s good to be here. This is democracy at work.”

Mr Hinch is running for the Senate and currently touring Victoria in the “Justice bus”.

VIC: High-profile names cast their votes

Simon Holmes a Court, the millionaire backer of independent candidate Monique Ryan in Kooyong, described a News Corp reporter’s journalism as “dodgy” for taking his photograph at a polling booth this morning.

Mr Holmes a Court, who has founded the ‘Teal’ independent movement, arrived at a booth in Hawthorn this morning to greet Ms Ryan and Climate 200 volunteers.

He reacted angrily after having his photograph taken, after he had asked for it not to be.

“I think that’s dodgy,” he told the reporter.

“I asked you not to take my photograph and you have.”

Julian Burnside QC, a former Greens candidate in Kooyong and local resident, cast his vote with his wife Kate Durham at a voting booth in Hawthorn this morning.

Mr Burnside said he voted for the Greens, and preferenced independent candidate Monique Ryan second.

Mr Burnside is one of a number of high-profile individuals who have arrived in Hawthorne this morning, including Simon Holmes à Court.

NT: Greens winning over Territory voters

Stuart Park resident Bianca Diamond turned up early to place her vote with The Greens.

“With young people we care a bit more about the environment and that’s sort of what they stand for, especially against fracking,” Ms Diamond said.

She said all Australians should participate in this federal election to have their voices heard.

“You need to have a say what happens in your country, your vote is powerful,” Ms Diamond said.

“And if you don’t vote then you don’t get to complain about the political situation.”

Ms Diamond described how simple and easy it was to vote.

“Go vote man, it’s easy. I can just walk in, do your thing. You can go early, go on your lunch break, go on the actual day and get your free sausage,” she said.

ACT: Voters turning up in numbers

12pm: On day one of pre-polling, Canberra has proven itself to be truly the nation’s capital with some voters hitting the booths while travelling interstate.

So far on the ground we have spoken with people voting in the seats of Sydney, Macnamara (Victoria) and Fadden (Queensland).

The majority of voters surveyed at the Civic pre-polling place stated they were voting in the central ACT seat of Canberra.

10.15am: Canberrans are steadily streaming into the Civic early voting centre on Moore Street.

Earlier in the morning there were appearances from current Labor MP for Canberra Alicia Payne and Liberal hopeful Slade Minson.

Many voters so far have said they voted Labor both in the Senate and in the House of Representatives.

Many people cite travelling and concerns over Covid for the reason they have chosen to vote early today.

SA: Major parties winning over early voters

Pre-polling is under way across South Australia with early voters making their decisions about who they want to see govern the country for the next three years.

Over in Sturt, the doors opened to the Marden Shopping Centre so early voters could get the job done, says journalist Brinley Duggan.

Sturt Liberal MP James Stevens did the early round and greeted the first hoard of voters, who in turn showered him in support.

The Liberals took a landslide early lead, but Labor has evened up the count with Labor treasury spokesman Jim Chalmers and candidate Sonja Barham both dropping in.

While older voters favoured the Liberals, a smattering of younger voters supported the Greens

and ranked action on climate as vital.

So far in Boothby this morning a majority of voters say they’re sticking to the two major parties with Labor slightly in front, our reporter Emily Jarvis says.

For the first time, the Brighton Surf Life Saving has opened its doors for voters attracting many early morning commuters who have been happy to cast their vote early.

Dedicated Labor voter Marcus Mitchell said today was a great opportunity to avoid massive lines.

“I’m voting Labor because our health system needs to be taken serious,” Mr Mitchell said.

“We need to support the older generation.”

TAS: Voting kicks off in hypermarginal territory

8.30am: Northern Tasmania’s political royalty has turned out in force at Launceston on day one of pre-polling.

The seat of Bass, separated by 600 votes after Liberal MP Bridget Archer stole a march on sitting Labor member Ross Hart in 2019, is one of the dozen or so hypermarginal seats which will decide the 2022 election.

Tasmanian Labor senator Hellen Polley was one of the first 20 voters to cast their ballot — no secret who she gave her ‘x’ to.

Ms Polley said this election would be a seat-by-seat slugfest, with no guarantee polls which show Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s unpopularity would translate to a national swing.

The Greens out early in northern Tasmania. Photo: Alex Treacy
The Greens out early in northern Tasmania. Photo: Alex Treacy

Meanwhile, Tasmanian Greens northern organiser Ebony Campbell said her party’s aim is to get Senator Peter Whish-Wilson re-elected and increase the primary vote for candidate Cecily Rosol.

“My main aim as northern organiser is to engage the youth and we’ve done that, we’ve seen more youth engaged in their future, not only by voting but also volunteering for their values,” she said.

Launceston’s pre-polling booth has been a quiet, amicable affair, with few voters as at 8.40am and Ms Archer’s Liberal team freely mingling with Jacqui Lambie Network Senate candidate Tammy Tyrrell and her volunteers.

Ms Archer said there was no need to be “unpleasant” in local politics.

She said she would be at pre-polling on and off throughout the day as she continues doorknocking to try and grow her wafer-thin margin.

Pre-Poll and the Australians who have made up their mind

Almost one in three Australians now cast their vote ahead of Election Day.

The number of ballots lodged early surged by 57 per cent at the last election, from 2.7 million votes in 2016 to 4.3 million votes in 2019 ahead of Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s ‘miracle win’.

It follows a similar trend in pre-polling at state elections.

Now, Morrison is hoping the ‘quiet Australians’ who returned the Coalition at the ballot box last time will do so again in 2022.

However, the Liberal-National government is confronting a series of challenges emerging from the Covid-19 pandemic that are top of mind for those same ‘quiet Australians’ — from housing, cost of living and climate change to national security.

A swathe of teal-coloured independents demanding strong action on climate change and a rejuvenated and united Labor party seeking a return to government after nine years have confounded pundits and analysts alike.

Will the Coalition prevail for a fourth term?

Or has Labor learned from the mistakes of its last period in government after walking away from its previous commitment to strong action on climate change and taking on the nation’s mining industry with a proposed super-profits tax?

In the background of these political combatants sits the nation’s almighty Reserve Bank of Australia which has forecast its intention to raise the cash rate to 2 per cent in the coming year.

The election will be decided by the votes lodged before May 21.

Originally published as Election 2022 live: Almost 1 million Australians cast early votes at pre-poll

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