Federal Election 2022: Pre-poll booths see thousands of early voters
The race to elect Australia’s next government has officially started, as pre-polling sees tens of thousands queue to place their ballot in the 2022 Federal Election.
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An overwhelming 208,000 voters across the state have already decided who they want to represent the community — and the country — as pre-polling stations open across NSW.
Queues formed early on Monday morning as pre-poll booths opened in communities stretching from the coast to the bush, and everywhere in between.
A spokesman for the Australian Electoral Commission told NewsCorp people were “passionate about voting” after reports of wait times growing at booths, as pre-poll voter numbers reached close to 100,000 on Tuesday morning.
“We’ve had reports of some locations experiencing low-no queues and some with a wait time required,” he said. “Fortunately in Australia we don’t see anything like what we’ve seen in some other jurisdictions in terms of queue times.
“In addition, there is a full two-week early voting period available as well as election day itself.”
The spokesman said if queues get too long, the commission encouraged voters to come back at another time.
“We’ve worked really hard to minimise queues where possible – including working with Deakin University of polling place setup and queueing methodology,” he said. “Ultimately though whenever you have an in-person event of this scale where people effectively choose when and where they vote there will be queues.
Election 2022 live: Almost 1 million Australians cast early votes at pre-poll
“At the previous federal election in 2019 we estimated that approximately 75 per cent of voters were able to get in and out in 15 minutes or less and we think that’s pretty good.”
Voters in polling booths in the state’s south told NewsLocal journalists that the ongoing threat of Covid was a major reason for voting before Election Day.
Meanwhile, others see voting as something they want to get “over and done with”.
One voter in the ACT, who did not wish to be named, said “lining up on election day is a pain in the arse”.
Pre-poll voting comes as A Sydney Liberal MP, fighting to retain a hotly contested seat has debunked claims he “won’t be seen” with Prime Minister Scott Morrison during the campaign trail.
North Sydney MP Trent Zimmerman shut down claims by Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese that he had banished the Prime Minister from joining him on the campaign trail.
NATIONALS LEAD THE WAY IN DUBBO
-By Aymon Bertah -
In the state’s largest electorate, the result is trending as most people would expect, although Labor candidate Jack Ayoub is in with a fighting chance, according to pre-polling.
In an anonymous exit poll at Dubbo Baptist Church, one of the two polling booths in the Parkes electorate, Labor has raked in 29 per cent of the vote with the Nationals leading at 54 per cent.
While there has been a major push for minor parties, they didn’t fare as well as some may have thought. The Greens were next, making up five per cent with the United Australia Party on four and the Indigenous Party and Liberal Democrats each at three per cent.
Independent candidate, Stuart Howe, and the Informed Medical Options party collected one vote each to round out the voting.
It left One Nation as the only party without a vote in our exit poll.
Of the three Indigenous Party voters, Kirk Darby is calling for “a greater representation of Indigenous people in parliament”.
“Particularly out here in a rural setting, having travelled around, it’s great to see the local Indigenous population that is keen and wants their voice heard and I want to support that as much as I can,” Darby said.
“I’m just sick of seeing white fullas try to dictate what happens to Indigenous folk.”
With increasing discussion over climate policy and a federal anti-corruption commission, a Labor voter gave his insight into why he chose against the National party.
“I’m really worried about the sorts of things the teal independents are concerned about,” the Labor voter said.
“Namely climate change and integrity in the government and I don’t think there’s any other party that stands any other chance out here against the sitting nationals.
“I don’t have any faith in the coalition at this stage to improve either of those major issues that I’ve mentioned.”
Unlike the Labor voter, Ruth Simmons, a long-time National supporter is hopeful incumbent MP, Mark Coulton will fulfil her plea for stronger telecommunications in the Parkes electorate.
“He’s a genuine country man, he does care and he visits communities,” Simmons said.
“I’m very hopeful that he will listen to the people and improve telecommunications, we need better phone service and better internet, so Mark please follow through.”
LIBERALS EDGE AHEAD IN CITY’S SOUTHWEST
- By Niki Iliagoueva -
A prepoll 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.
The warmer weather seems to have brought out more voters today at the Bowral Seniors Citizens Centre, Corbett Gardens🌞🌳 pic.twitter.com/W2GuBxdyFt
— Niki Iliagoueva (@NIliagoueva) May 10, 2022
Coming from more conservative divisions, the majority of votes at the booth swung towards the Liberal seat at 55%, according to an anonymous exit survey of 100 people conducted by The Bowral News.
One Liberal voter said “we’ll be in trouble” if Anthony Albanese is voted in as Prime Minister and professed that he is ‘terrified that all the young people will vote for the Greens.”
Another voter said “the Liberal party is the best seat to help us out here.”
Member for Wollondilly @mp_nathaniel who was at the Bowral prepoll booth this afternoon, spoke of a burning issue voters were asking him about. 🗳#NewsPrepoll pic.twitter.com/fOmfvZj9IF
— Niki Iliagoueva (@NIliagoueva) May 9, 2022
However there also seemed to be a growing distaste with the coalition in the area.
According to the survey, Labor held the second most voted seat at 22%, with several people expressing a need for a change.
Others held the same desire, but spoke of anti-major sentiment and simply “wanting Scott out.”
One of the campaigners at the booth said even though it’s unlikely the Liberal Party will be voted out, at least those voting for minor parties will “disrupt numbers.”
A young voter thought so too, and said that the only reason he voted for Greens was to contribute to “less polarisation.”
Greens held the third highest vote in the survey, at 8%.
One local who decided to cast her vote nice and early in Bowral spoke about why she’s voting for Labor this #federalelection2022 🗳#NewsPrepoll pic.twitter.com/igd1iNflgy
— Niki Iliagoueva (@NIliagoueva) May 9, 2022
The campaigner also noticed more discussion in the area around accountability and transparency, and said Independants are to thank for that.
“The major parties are against holding a Federal Independent Commision Against Corruption (ICAC), probably because they have a few skeletons in their closets,” she said.
One young Greens voter said some of the issues she was hoping for more accountability on were Indigenous issues, affordable housing and the environment - the last topic being a large concern for voters in the area.
“You have to address the environment before you address anything else,” the Greens voter said.
However she also expressed the “lack of clear options for what’s valuable to (her),” something many voters seem to be feeling.
LAXALE PICKING UP SUPPORT IN HOWARD’S SEAT
- By Sarah Buckley -
The polls have slowed down at St Anne’s Anglican Church in Ryde on Monday afternoon after a heavy shower deterred voters queuing up in the morning.
ALP has taken a strong lead in the Bennelong seat which has been a Liberal safe seat since 2010.
St Anne’s is accommodating dual voting across both Bennelong and North Sydney seats, with Liberal candidate Simon Kennedy backed to take over from John Alexander after his recently announced retirement.
Although ALP are short on Jerome Laxale posters at the polling centre, pollers have said red shirts have their vote in Bennelong so far as News Corp’s exit polling continues to canvas 80 pre-poll booths across the country.
The Bennelong exit poll revealed 48 people voted for Jerome Laxale, while Liberal candidate, Mr Kennedy, gained 41 votes.
Greens candidate, Tony Adams, got 5 voters on his side while his team at the polling centre claimed “Greens is for maintaining Medicare”.
A voter said “if Albanese wasn’t in, I might have voted Labor”.
“Just because you change your hair and lose some weight, doesn’t make you better,” he said.
Bennelong has been a Liberal seat since 2010, after John Howard’s oust in 2007, former ABC journalist, Maxine McKew’s short stint briefly reinstated faith in Labor within the region.
Jerome Laxale, Labor’s candidate and the Mayor of Ryde, has been deemed by voters “the pick” after Mr Kennedy’s “anti-vaccine” sentiment shook voters a few weeks out from the election.
John Howard has since backed Mr Kennedy for his bid to win Bennelong voters in anticipation of the Federal Election taking general voters’ ballots on Saturday 21 May.
McCORMACK THE FAVOURITE IN WAGGA
- By Patrick Morrow -
Covid was still front of mind for many at the pre-polling booth at Wagga this week, with residents masking up to make their vote.
The Wagga News’ anonymous exit survey of 100 people revealed that the current Riverina MP - and former Deputy Prime Minister - Michael McCormack was the favourite, with Labor in second place and the Greens in third.
One voter at the Trail St pre-poll booth said “I can’t stand Albanese, that is why I am voting for who I know” with another voter adding “I know Mr McCormack, we don’t know what Labor stands for in this part of the world.”
There was some support for Labor among young voters however, such as Wagga resident Jesse Proctor.
“I think Labor is offering a positive vision to go forward and is proactive compared to the other major parties in this election,” he said.
Mr Proctor is voting for the second time and believes even though it is a safe seat, it’s important to cast your vote.
“I expect that Labor won’t win but it is important to express yourself in the democratic system.”
Some candidates were out and about at the pre-poll booth with Labor’s hopeful Mark Jeffreson and UAP Candidate Daniel Martelozzo trying to win over the early voters.
“It was pretty busy, people are keen to have their vote, I think people are supporting the volunteers and I think the support for Labor is there in the Riverina,” Mr Jeffreson said.
UAP candidate Daniel Martelozzo was excited to be part of the pre poll action as a first time runner.
“It is my first time doing it and it was quite interesting, normally with pre poll they already know who they want to vote for,” Mr Martelozzo said.
LIFELONG LIBERALS VOTE FOR ALBO
- By Alexi Demetriadi -
In Anthony Albanese’s inner city seat of Grayndler, the result is as you would expect, but perhaps not as one-sided as first thought – in pre-polling, anyway.
Out of the 100 early voters asked at All Souls church in Leichhardt, close to half said they’d given their first preference to Albanese and Labor.
Two lifelong Liberal voters said – within five minutes of each other – this was their first time voting Labor and that they couldn’t bring themself to vote for Scott Morrison.
“I can’t give my vote to the Liberal party as long as Morrison, Pete Dutton and Barnaby Joyce are still there,” the first voter said.
“They’ve just moved so far away from liberal values,” the second Liberal-turned-Labor voter told me.
Interestingly, however, for such a safe Labor seat (Grayndler has never returned another party) there were more Liberal voters than perhaps expected. 30 out of the 100 asked said they voted Liberal, nine more than the 21 who said they gave their first preference to the Greens.
HUNDREDS VOTE EARLY ON THE COAST
- By Fiona Killman and Richard Noone -
Two days of rain hasn’t stopped hundreds of people pre-poll voters across the Robertson electorate on the Central Coast.
Woy Woy has emerged as the busiest pre-poll booth with line ups often down the street, while the Impact Centre at Erina has also had a steady flow of voters including buses of people from nearby retirement villages.
A 100 vote exit poll conducted by News Corp journalists at booths in Erina, Woy Woy and Gosford revealed there’s not much in it between the two major parties at this stage. Labor crept ahead with 46 of the votes and Liberal received 40.
The Greens came away with eight, United Australia Party three votes and one a piece for Pauline Hanson’s One Nation, the Liberal Democrats and the Animal Justice Party.
However, with one in five people declining to reveal their vote, the most accurate picture will not be known until the final count.
The Express found that the people voting early were clear on who they wanted in government and many were thankful to “get it over and done with”.
Nurse Shini Thomas and her husband, from Narara, said they voted Labor due to the party’s position on healthcare.
“We are both nurses,” Mrs Thomas said.
“We are struggling with nurse to patient ratios and payments. We have been struggling since Covid with no relief. We have also found that the Liberals haven’t done anything locally.”
Davistown’s Kevin Surtherland has predicted a “hung parliament”.
“There’s just so much propaganda going around,” he said.
“I am a traditional Labor voter, both mum and dad were factory workers. Labor can do a lot more. Here we are in Gosford and we are still waiting for the Liberals to deliver a commuter carpark.”
There were also voters admitting they had swapped from Labor to Liberal or vice versa.
Wendy McKellar said she had swapped to Labor due to the party’s position on aged care.
‘MORRISON ALL TALK AND NO WALK’: LISMORE RESIDENT
- By Nicholas Rupolo -
Anger at the Morrison government’s handling of natural disasters has given rise to a potential protest vote in flood-affected seats in Northern NSW.
Ken from Lismore was ropeable at the government saying they do “lots of talking but they don’t do” in the seat of Page.
He didn’t say who he voted for but indicated he didn’t vote for sitting Nationals MP Kevin Hogan.
“The biggest issue for me is everyone is talking about doing something but no-one is doing anything about the flood,” he said.
Ken’s daughter lives in Coraki, a small town that runs along the Richmond River which was devastated by flooding.
He voted for a change of government because he feels they have talked the talk, but so far haven’t walked the walk.
“They talk about millions of dollars but nothing has happened, we need to bloody floodproof The region,” Ken
“Start doing something! Right now it’s all talk”.
‘REALLY AMAZING’: OXY’S FIRST TASTE OF DEMOCRACY AS LIBS TAKE EARLY LEAD
- By Nathan Schmidt -
Liberal candidate Andrew Constance took an early lead on Tuesday as pre-polling in the seat of Gilmore entered its second day.
A steady stream of voters filed into the Nowra Uniting Church as pre-polling continued, braving inclement weather conditions to cast their ballot in the hotly contested electorate.
Exit polls carried out by The south coast News put Mr Constance 9 points ahead of his Labor candidate and incumbent member for Gilmore, Fiona Phillips.
Following the LNP at 47 votes and the ALP at 38, were The Greens at 11 votes - with preferential votes to flow to Labor -, as well Clive Palmer’s United Australia Party at 1, and Pauline Hanson’s One Nation also at 1.
Independent candidate and former Shoalhaven City Councillor Nina Digigilo also secured two votes. The former nurse led a campaign largely focused on the Shoalhaven area.
For Kazakh immigrant Axuirek “Oxy” Nurusheva, Tuesday’s vote was a moment of elation for the Liberal volunteer who, after 19 years in Australia, would be casting her first ballot.
“It will be really amazing,” Ms Nurusheva said of the May 21 vote.
“My family in Kazahkstan is very excited because they actually know what it means, and that it is legitimate.”
Ms Nurusheva emigrated from the west of Kazakhstan and said that in her years living under the post-Soviet hybrid regimen of Nursultan Nazarbayev, she had never experienced real democracy.
“Where I am from, it doesn’t matter who you vote for, it’s going to be the same outcome,” she said.
“Here, I feel like I have a voice and I can vote for the party that I share my values with.”
Not all voters who queued up on Tuesday shared Ms Nurusheva’s optimism.
Local Robert Boone said he chose not to vote for either major party despite previously being a steadfast Liberal voter, and voted instead for independent Nina Digigilo.
He said that while he supports a “strong” economy, he believed it should be one that works for everybody, and not just business.
“This economy has been strong, but look at what’s done,” he said.
“It created homelessness and home unaffordability.
“That’s not what the economy is about: it’s not looking out for bankers, property investments, property landlords. Not when a normal bloke is working maybe 50 hours a week and can’t afford proper education for his children or proper housing.”
INDEPENDENT READY TO TAKE ON KENEALLY
- By Paul Brescia -
At Fowler, a traditional Labor seat in southwest Sydney, Kristina Keneally is the favourite but local candidate Dai Le is shaping up to be her biggest competitor.
A light drizzle hasn’t stopped Fairfield, Cabramatta and Bonnyrigg residents from coming to the St John’s Park Anglican Church prepoll booth and casting their votes early.
One voter in Fowler said he’s been voting Labor since arriving in Australia 30 years ago.
Another voter had only settled into the country from New Zealand a week ago, but decided to vote Liberal for his first.
Fairfield Mayor Frank Carbone is on site at the prepoll booth supporting Fowler independent candidate Dai Le — who is also deputy mayor of Fairfield.
Ms Le said she decided to run after Labor parachuted Kristina Keneally into the seat, and is putting herself forward as a local candidate with clear plans to solve local issues.
“We felt the community really wanted local representation, strong local experience, a strong local voice, that is connected to them,” Ms Le said.
Mr Carbone and Ms Le are former Labor and Liberal members, respectively, who have eschewed their parties to successfully run as independents in local council elections.
“If the people in the Northern Beaches are able to have local candidates, people in Fairfield should have the same,” Mr Carbone said.
But Kristina Keneally was the last face voters saw as they were walking in to cast their ballots, with the Labor candidate arriving later in the morning.
She said she’s received a great reception from people, and that she’s optimistic to throw out the Morrison government.
SUPERSTAR SEA EAGLE JOINS THE HUNDREDS VOTING EARLY ON THE NORTHERN BEACHES
- By Jim O’Rourke -
Manly Sea Eagles’s NRL star Tom Trbojevic didn’t have to sidestep the crowds making their marks voting in the second day of pre-poll voting in the currently safe Liberal seat of Mackellar.
The fullback, who grew up around Mona Vale, was in and out of the Nelson Heather Community Centre at Warriewood in about 10 minutes after turning up at about 10am.
Trbojevic, a favourite with Manly fans, was reluctant to talk, but happy to have his photo taken. The Eagles are playing the Parramatta Eels on the Friday night before the May 21 election, at Parramatta in a 8pm kick-off.
But 100 other voters, who took part in an exit poll at Warriewood, conducted by News Corp, suggested that the so-called “Teal” independent Sophie Scamps will give sitting Liberal MP Jason Falinski a run for his money.
Of the voters taking part in the poll, 41 per cent said they had voted for Dr Scamps, a GP.
Mr Falinski attracted votes from 39 supporters, while the Greens Ethan Hrnjak gathered nine votes, the United Australia Party’s Christopher Ball, seven, and One Naton’s Darren Dickson four.
Dr Scamp was handing out how to vote cards on Tuesday, and had set up a coffee cart for voters on Monday morning.
Mr Falinski has a two-party preferred margin in mackellar
But Dr Scamps said she was happy with the response she was getting from early voters.
“It’s been really positive,”she said. “We’re getting a lot of support.”
Her campaign manager Jacqui Scruby said they now had about 1200 volunteers signed up.
VOTERS COME OUT EARLY IN CUNNINGHAM
- By Dylan Arvela -
There was an appetite to vote early for around 800 people casting their ballot at the Wollongong Salvation Army building in Wollongong on Monday, the first day of pre-polling.
The voting centre is in the heart of the safe Labor seat of Cunningham which Sharon Bird won 13.4 per cent in 2019.
However, Ms Bird is retiring after 18 years (and six elections) in the job with her long-time advisor Alison Byrnes the party’s pick to replace her.
“It’s a pleasure to be here at pre-polling supporting Alison,” Ms Bird said.
“We have a great candidate with a big heart and I’m happy to spend time here during my retirement.
“I’m happy with the decision [to retire], as is my family, but I have mixed emotions due to my attachment to the electorate.”
Ms Byrnes was absent from pre-polling as she recovered from Covid, however an 100-voter exit poll conducted by News Corp indicates she’s on the way to holding the seat for Labor with 53 voters putting a ‘1’ next to her name.
“We’re in Cunningham so [I voted] Labor obviously,” one person said
Another absentee was Liberal candidate Marcus Uren who was without volunteers of signage on the ground.
“I know I’m in Wollongong, but I voted Liberal – it’s funny that they’re not even here,” a voter said.
The Liberals received 24 votes in the exit poll with the Greens’ Dylan Green picking up 19 votes.
The United Australia Party collected two votes while the Liberal Democrats (who were also a no-show) and One Nation received one vote each.
The final candidate, Alexis Garnaut-Miller, of the Citizens Party polled zero votes.
‘KINGFORD SMITH WILL STAY RED’
- By Clare Sibthorpe -
The seat of Kingsford Smith in Sydney’s eastern suburbs has been held by Labor since it was formed 71 years ago, in 1949.
The father of Labor MP Matt Thistlethwaite, Bruce Thistlethwaite, spoke to the Southern Courier at a Maroubra pre-polling booth this morning, where he shared his confidence in his son keeping his current seat. Kingsford Smith is currently held by Labor with a margin of 8.8 per cent.
“I certainly think he will keep his seat, mainly because of the enormous amount of work he does and the enormous amount of work his mother and father do in looking after the grandkids,” Mr Thistlethwaite said.
Bruce is the dad of Labor’s Kingsford Smith MP Matt Thistlethwaite. He’s using his precious time off grandfather duties during his son’s busy election campaign to vote early. He says a love of politics runs in the family #NewsPrepoll pic.twitter.com/0bD3lTPTKB
— Clare Sibthorpe (@ClareSibthorpe) May 9, 2022
“He’s doing very well, he works extremely hard - harder than anyone I’ve ever met in politics in Kingsford Smith. I think Labor has always had extremely good people to stand for the seat, the likes of [Lionel] Bowen who was a great politician and at one stage was the deputy PM of Australia.”
Asked what his son was like as a child, Mr Thistlethwaite said “very good. Not a problem”.
“He was a good surfer and good footballer. He played rugby league for Maroubra Lyons and went on to become the president of Maroubra Surf Life Saving Club, president of PCYC and school captain at Pagewood. He went on to UNSW to study economics and law.”
When it came to who Labor’s biggest competition was, Mr Thistlethwaite said he had no idea, but had not seen any of the other candidates around Kingsford Smith.
While obviously supporting his own son, Mr Thistlethwaite said a general interest in politics ran in the family and he thought that should be the case for every Australian.
“It’s a right that people fight and die for, the democratic system,” he said.
“So I think everyone should do their civil duty to vote and vote properly.”
LABOR SURGE IN CANBERRA
- By Julia Kanapathippillai -
Campaigners from various political stripes were out in force at the Civic Polling place on Moore Street, Canberra, on Monday.
Yet there were a few noticeable absences with no campaigners present from the united Australia Party or Pauline Hanson’s One Nation Party.
None of the 100 people surveyed by News Local in Canberra said they would vote for either party in the House of Representatives or the Senate.
The Labor party was the clear favourite at the booth with 51 people saying they gave Labor their first preference in the lower house and 42 people saying they gave labor their first preference in the senate.
Greens and the liberal party were in lock step, with 20 respondents saying they put the Liberals down as their first preference in the House of Representatives and 24 saying they preferenced the Greens first.
In the senate the greens and the liberals both had 15 people say they preferenced the party first.
Independent ACT Senate hopeful David Pocock edged ahead of both Greens and Liberal with 18 people telling News Local they preferenced him first in the senate.
Meanwhile three people said they had preferenced Independent ACT senate contender Kim Rubenstien first.
Just over half of the voters interviewed at the Moore St polling place said they were voting in the seat of Canberra, followed by 19 people from the ACT Division of Bean, 11 people from the ACT Division of Fenner and four people from the neighbouring NSW Division of Eden-Monaro.
However there were many people voting on money from further afield, with voters from the seats of Richmond, Gippsland, Kingsford Smith, Macnamara, Maranoa, Ryan, Sturt, Sydney Warringah, Whitlam and Adelaide casting their votes in the Nation’s Capital.
RAIN KEEPS EARLY VOTERS AT BAY
- By Sarah Buckley -
The polls are slowing down in Ryde this afternoon after a heavy shower deterred voters this morning.
ALP has taken a strong lead in the Bennelong seat which has been a Liberal safe seat.
At Anne’s is accommodating dual voting across both Ryde and North Sydney voters.
Although ALP are short on Jerome Laxale posters at the polling centre, pollers have said red shirts have their vote so far.
CANDIDATES VY FOR VOTES IN SYDNEY’S NORTH
- By David Barwell -
Hundreds turned out early in the North Sydney electorate to cast their vote at the prepoll booth in Crows Nest.
Sitting Liberal MP Trent Zimmerman and Labor candidate Catherine Renshaw spent the best part of the day greeting voters at the door.
Of the voters surveyed, 44 said they voted for Trent Zimmerman, 31 for Catherine Renshaw, 24
for Independent Kylea Tink and one for New Liberals candidate Victor Kleine.
CRAIG KELLY FACES BACKLASH OVER MOVE TO UAP
- By Ashleigh Tullis -
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 independent candidates Georgia Steele and Linda Seymour received six and two votes respectively.
One Nation received one vote and the United Nation Party got three in the electorates of Cook and Hughes.
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”.
BLACK SUMMER HAWAII TRIP STILL HAUNTS VOTERS IN PARRAMATTA
- By Joanne Vella -
At Parramatta, the battle for the marginal seat (which Labor holds by 3.5 per cent) got under way from 8am when the electorate’s only polling booth opened just off Auto Alley.
The exit poll revealed the Liberals in front with 42 votes, while Labor closely followed with 39, the Greens picked up seven, independent candidate Steve Christou got six votes, the United Australia Party scored four and One Nation picked up two in the multicultural seat.
Kitted out in a green shirt and floral hat, Dundas resident Vera Myronenko made her allegiances clear and elected for Greens candidate Phil Bradley after being impressed with him as a Parramatta councillor.
The retired English as a second language teacher wants issues including climate change, housing shortage, social housing and helping international students secure fair wages to be tackled.
“While we depend on them, they’re getting wage theft,’’ she said.
Granville’s Blayney Lucas, 41, voted for Labor after criticising Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s Hawaiian jaunt during the bushfires and slow vaccination rollout.
Telopea 75-year-old Graham Sugar cast his vote for the Liberals.
“We both believe this is the best for our country,’’ he said of his 93-year-old wife, Jenny.
“We’ve both lived under four Labor governments and don’t want to live under another one.’’
Peter Vodogaz, 44, who most recently moved to Parramatta, cast his vote for independent Mr Christou.
“I think an independent will do a better job and not be part of the two major parties,’’ he said.
He predicted Labor to win the poll and said a change was needed from the Liberals.
Candidates mixed easily with one another including controversial Labor hopeful Andrew Charlton and Liberal contender Maria Kovacic, former Cumberland Mayor Mr Christou, United Australia Party’s Julian Fayad and Liberal Democrats Liza Tazewell.
Concerns were raised the pre-poll was too isolated and parking too tight but candidates steadily filed through the former Ford dealership at Dixon St as hopefuls swarmed them with how-to-vote cards.
Mr Fayad joked that his “twin brother” Jeremy, 25, who is four years younger than him but a deadringer was helping him act as a body double while they hit the hustings.
‘LET’S GIVE LABOR A CHANCE”
- By Annie Lewis -
Bad weather couldn’t deter voters from pre-polling at the Campbelltown Civic Centre, as hundreds of residents lined up to cast their vote in the Federal Election.
One voter shares their thoughts after casting their vote at Campbelltown #NewsPrepoll pic.twitter.com/aR1tak57d4
— Annie Lewis (@LewisAnni) May 9, 2022
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 The Daily Telegraph 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.”
CANDIDATES, SUPPORTERS OUT IN FORCE IN TWEED
— By Liana Walker —
A steady flow of people came in and out of the Tweed Baptist Church on Monday to vote early for the seat of Richmond.
Wet weather didn’t deter campaigners from The Nationals, the Labor Party and The Greens, however the other six candidates running for the seat weren’t present.
Incumbent Labor candidate Justine Elliot and Nationals candidate Kimberly Hone both attended the booth as it opened in the morning.
Most voters in Tweed Heads knew who they were voting for before arriving with most to get in and out of the booths as quickly as possible and escape the rain.
Convenience preferred for early voters
— By Julia Kanapathippillai —
Voters flocking to pre-polling centres in Canberra this Federal Election are focused on convenience, rather than election day festivities.
One voter at a Canberra pre-polling centre put it bluntly; “lining up to vote on election day is a pain in the arse”.
Convenience and avoiding the election day rush was one factor that popped up consistently at the Moore St, Civic, pre-polling place.
Another common response was travel: with travel restrictions eased many voters were keen to have one less thing to worry about before their departure.
Additionally, multiple people surveyed by News Local at the Moore St polling place were from outside of the ACT, with voters from Macnamara (Victoria), Sydney, Adelaide, Gippsland, and Fadden (QLD) casting their ballots early in the Nation’s Capital.
Concerns about the pandemic also were a factor with early voters citing concerns about large crowds as a key reason for voting early.
This response was echoed particularly by older voters who remain vulnerable to the ravages of Covid-19
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Originally published as Federal Election 2022: Pre-poll booths see thousands of early voters
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