Preferences may help decide the Australian election. Here is what could happen in five crucial seats
Guardian1 day
Australia's Election Tallies Record Early Voting Surge
Above: A man places his ballot into a box at the Werribee Masonic Hall polling center in the Division of Lalor, Australia, during early voting for the 2025 Australian federal election on April 22, 2025. Image copyright: Ye Myo Khant/Contributor/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
Australia's early voting system sparks voter enthusiasm, with a record 542,141 ballots cast on the first day of 2025 pre-polling—a 72% surge from 2022. Eager voters embrace flexible options: pre-poll booths from April 22 to May 2, postal voting due by April 30, and remote voting. These choices have fueled strong turnout, ensuring voices are heard before the May 3 election.
Establishment-critical narrative
Early voting’s convenience undermines Australia’s electoral integrity, fragmenting the communal decision-making of election day. Late campaign developments, like Queensland Labor's surge, reveal that pre-poll and postal voters may miss critical policy shifts or gaffes. The sterile pre-poll process also dilutes the civic ritual of election day, which should remain the primary voting focus to ensure a unified, informed democratic choice.