Federal election 2022: Pre-polling voters set scene with big names Derryn Hinch, Greg Hunt on show

NewsCorp journos were spread out across the country for an exclusive — and far-reaching — pre-polling survey. Check out the early results.

LaTrobe federal Liberal MP Jason Wood and supporters in Berwick.

The keenest Australian voters have rushed to pre-polling booths across the country as the first votes were lodged in the 2022 federal election.

And, in a NewsCorp Australia first, dozens of reporters fanned out across the country on Monday to get the exclusive read on how people were voting as pre-polling kicked off.

In Victoria, from Mildura to the Mornington Peninsula, more than 700 voters were surveyed after casting their ballot papers at pre-polling booths.

The aim was to take the pulse of what Victorians were thinking in the earliest hours of the election and some early trends were becoming apparent.

At the Hawthorn booth in the seat of Kooyong, held by Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, early signs had more than 50 per cent of votes heading his way.

MP Greg Hunt, who is not recontesting his seat this election, with wife Paula Lindsey handing out how to vote cards in support of Zoe McKenzie at an early voting booth in Mornington on May 9. Picture: Lucy Callander

At the Mornington booth, in the seat of Flinders, where veteran MP Greg Hunt is standing down, the Liberals are tracking strongly according to early exit polls.

Mr Hunt was at the booth and was a popular volunteer, with many voters stopping to chat and some expressing disappointment he was not standing.

“I’m being upgraded,” he joked.

“It’s time for me to focus on being a dad.”

At the Maroondah Sports Club booth in the seat of Deakin, Labor seemed to be tracking well with more than 50 per cent of those surveyed voting for the ALP.

At the Box Hill Town Hall booth our survey had the Liberals with their noses in front in the early stages while in Ballarat the major parties were neck and neck, with Labor scoring just under 50 per cent of voters surveyed so far.

The Human Headline himself Derryn Hinch was a star attraction at Box Hill, as he looks to return to Canberra in the Senate.

He said daily meal allowances for those in aged care were among his party’s major concerns.

“In that royal commission, they (the Liberals) said the average spend on aged care food was $6.07 per person,” Mr Hinch said.

“Last time I was in jail, I got $10 a day plus all the free milk I wanted.

“We could have steak, chicken, anything, and pensioners can’t do that in or out of aged care, and that is wrong.”

At the Akoonah Park Centre Berwick in the LaTrobe electorate, three quarters of those surveyed had voted Liberal however the ALP had a strong showing at the booth in Lalor, with 52 per cent of the vote compared to the Coalition’s 35 per cent.

In Melbourne’s north, pre-polling booth in the seat of McEwen had the ALP marginally in front with 37 per cent of the vote to the Coalition’s 32 per cent.

One of those who took advantage to get her vote in early was Hanna Davis, 42, who cast her vote at Collingwood Masonic Hall prior to going on a road trip in the Northern Territory.

She said it was her first time voting on home turf in more than a decade, as she had been working overseas when past elections were held.

Ms Davis voted for the Greens as she liked their policies on climate change, education and recognising First Nations people, and because she was unimpressed by the Coalition and Labor’s campaign tactics.

Hanna Davis got her vote in early at the pre-polling booth in Abbotsford. She voted for the Greens. Picture: Josie Hayden

“The parties bad mouth each other instead of plugging their policies,” she said.

“They (Liberals and Labor) are both as bad as each other, the Greens are a good alternative.”

Ms Davis thought incumbent Greens federal Melbourne MP Adam Bandt would hold onto his seat at the May 21 poll.

She said she enjoyed pre-polling due to the minimal wait times and would do so again in the future.

“I remember last time I voted I lined up for hours, so I’ll definitely do this again.”

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.