It’s been more than three months since tomorrow’s double dissolution election was first flagged and almost three whole years since the last federal election, so it’s fair to say a few of us might need a quick refresher on how to make the most of our democratic rights.
With that in mind, we’ve put together a little how-to guide for election day, with everything you’ll need to know from where to go to cast your vote to filling in your ballot paper to getting your grubby mits on the best sausage in bread.
A sort of Voting 101, if you will.
First things first, finding your local polling station.
If you’re not sure which electorate you’re enrolled in yet, all you need to do is jump on the Australian Electoral Commission website, chuck in your post code and voila!
Polling places are open between 8am and 6pm and usually located in schools, church halls and public buildings.
Google Maps has a tool that allows you to pop in your address and find the one nearest you.
More importantly, they’re also offering live updates about sausage sizzles and cake stalls so you won’t go hungry (you can register yours here).
Was there ever a hashtag more glorious than #democracysausage? Unlikely.
Voting in the lower house.
Australians vote in two ballots, the first is for the lower house or the House of Representatives.
This one is fairly straight forward just put a ‘1’ in the box next to your preferred candidate and number the remaining candidates in order of preference.
Top Comments
This one cracked me up:
"Socialist Alliance
A far-left socialist party fighting against oppression, injustice and the fucking Socialist Equality Party.
Socialist Equality Party
A far-left socialist party fighting against oppression, injustice and the fucking Socialist Alliance."
I know some people in the first party though and they seem pretty well meaning, though yeah I'm not sure of the difference between the two parties!
I'm in a minor party myself, but you said something nice about it, so that made me happy (not going to say which).
However I will say this, I am personally left wing, but I don't think the ALA really deserve the title of Nazis, though it certainly works in the favour of my left wing party, but they are really (to my mind) just conservatives who have some, I think valid concerns about Islamisation. I don't agree with all of their views, but i think their leader Kirralie Smith, and also Angry Anderson come across as having some well reasoned ideas, mixed in with some conservative ideas that I disagree with. On the other hand I completely agree with your view on Pauline Hanson, she is just a political opportunist, in ten years she will probably be complaining about the Inuits, or whoever is the flavour of the month to hate.
Anyway not giving away my own party here, but i was relieved that they didn't get blasted by you!
That'd be Jacob Coote. If you're going to quote an Australian movie based on an Australian book in regards to Australian politics you should probably get it correct.