Election day open thread

Love election day! Good luck to the good Independents. I’ll be watching Franklin in Tasmania because it’s a long shot Indy v Labor. And Dickson for giggles.

A great day for democracy. And I hope we have a respectful election and there’s no sniping once it is all done – just analysis of the numbers. We are fortunate to have compulsory voting.

And no matter which party you are in, if you’re helping with the election in any way e.g. handing out ‘how to votes’ for any party, a big thank you to you no matter which party it is for!

Agree DB, hopefully the discussion here can also be respectful, we tend to do a good job of it, but emotions get high on election night.

One thing that’s always good to see is when the volunteers for all the different parties are having a friendly chat and getting along as people.

They’re basically all in the same boat – getting up early on a cold Saturday to give time and effort for their ‘team’.

Agreed, DB. I got a hug from two of the independent volunteers after agreeing with something they’d asked me! A very nice way to start the day 😂

My local booth always has a majority Lib vote despite being in a safe ALP seat. There was a lone ALP chap hoping to hand out flyers and a large flock of Lib supporters doing the same .. it was nice to see the ALP worker happily chatting with the “other side”. No sign of anyone from the minors or independents, not even a corflute, but it is one of the smallest booths in the electorate. No democracy sausage either, alas, so I can’t report on that but it is just a minute’s walk from the front door & I had to pass by it to go to the shops.

Reasonable queue at Taylor Primary in Bean at 10am – Independents Price for Bean and Pocock for the Seante well represented, Labor Greens & Liberals volunteers also present. Good cake & sweet stall & sausages, egg & bacon rolls, only downside was that there was not a coffee cart. Independents & Greens look like they were doing reasonable business – didn’t seem to be huge enthusiasm for Labor

I spent the first 23 years of my life in China, where I never saw a single ballot paper or had the chance to exercise my so-called “democratic rights”. This is particularly ironic because those rights are all written into the constitution of Communist China. It wasn’t until I came to Australia at the age of 24 that I experienced my first real taste of democracy, through a student union election at the University of Melbourne. From that moment on, I looked forward to the day when I could truly have a say.

I became an Australian citizen last year, at the age of 30, and since then I have constantly reflected on what it means to finally be part of a democracy where every voice matters.

Today, I cast my first vote in a Federal Election as an Australian citizen. I feel deeply honoured and thrilled to exercise my democratic right in such an incredible country. At 8am on this quiet Saturday morning, the polling station was not yet busy, and even the democracy sausage stand had not been set up. However, the volunteers I met, regardless of which party they supported, were kind and respectful. The AEC staff were also genuinely happy for me when they heard it was my first time voting. Everything about the experience reflected the everyday spirit of this great country: calm, respectful, and fair.

I feel very fortunate to have chosen Australia and embraced its values. I am also relieved that Australians have not gone down the same path of polarisation and populism that has divided other democracies. People here still treat one another with respect, and political leaders continue to follow the rule of law and fair play in democratic practices.

To those who have grown up on this land, I want to say how lucky you are to enjoy one of the most stable and high-functioning democratic systems in the world.

No matter which party wins today, I hope we can stay united and continue to uphold the open, confident, and democratic values that define Australia. This is especially important in a world that is becoming increasingly unstable and dangerous, where billions of people still live in hunger, poverty, or under dictatorial rules.

Doug are the Price and Pocock volunteers in separate groups, or have they got a shared HTV or smth?

So the polls seem to indicate a 1-2 point difference on primary vote. If this is right, Labor should get a majority larger than last time.

What are everyone’s final thoughts on The Green’s performance? The YouGov MRP had them on 3 seats, with tight margins in Griffith and Ryan, losing Brisbane, and holding Melbourne but on a reduced margin of 6% (previous MRP had Melbourne at around 2.5%). The Brisbane seats are understandably close, but Melbourne is closer than I expected.

Steady trickle at Tooborac. Normally a Nationals town, being added to Bendigo has broadened the placards and volunteers. Even had a Libertarian placard…

Pocok and Price volunteers are very distinct – colourwide and organisationally – each has a separate HTV. Price is orange tee shirts while P:ocok is dark blue with red & black lettering.

Interesting development – Greens are referencing Price the independent ahead of Labour. I am told that Labor are handing out green coloured cards asking Green voters to preference Labor. Suggests a degree of concern that the Independent might be a threat

What everyone really wants to know – when Anthony Green retires tonight, will you step into his shoes?! Vote 1 Ben Raue for ABCs next psephologist!

Sam Maiden said Lib sources say Labor will win between 72-78 seats. Not sure how credible that is. I hear between 60-65 for coalition, which is better than the last election and would probably mean low 70s for ALP. Internally LIB polling is a bit better than national polls and has traditionally been pretty spot on. For instance, in 2019, Libs were confident of winning the election when the polls said there was no chance. In saying that, Labor will win this election. I said 80 to Labor but Lib internal polling would result in closer to low to mid 70’s for them. Internal polling can be very wrong as the WA election proved to be in terms of seat count.

@Boca Liberator

Well said, and congratulations on your first vote. It does indeed matter that we do this with grace, respect and goodwill. The belief that it is worth having a democratic system – for all its flaws – is where our democracy truly resides, not in the political parties.

It’s not all that long ago historically that we didn’t have these rights. I think that we sometimes forget that none of this happens by accident.

@ Jim F

I’m biased because I’ve been on prepoll for the greens across a few booths in Melbourne, but I think wills and macnamara will both be close but greens will just get over in both. In Queensland I think it will be Griffith and Ryan retain with Brisbane going to labor. Richmond is a wild card that I have down as labor retain but could go any way

Well said @bocaliberator
A timely reminder!

All very civil at Hazelbrook Public School (division of Macqaurie, NSW) when I voted around 09:30 this morning. The queue was perhaps about 30 people long and took about 10 minutes. There were more people (hopefully volunteers, but who knows) for Labor and Liberal than necessary, but only about four from each were handing out HTVs. The others were just chatting well off to the side and not being overbearing. One Green handing out and one or two others chatting, including local councillor Brent Hoare. One person each handing out for the Libertarians, Family First, and Animal Justice (Senate only, no HOR candidate). No-one from One Nation despite them having a HOR candidate. Thankfully none of the mobbing and standover tactics from members of the Exclusive Bretheren reported elsewhere during early voting.

I had a great experience handing out when standing for Melbourne North before the Upper House changed.
I was the Green candidate and only one at the booth for the day.
I was in a wheelchair and struggled to get them out.
ALP and Lib helpers grabed some of mine and handed out at the other entrance for me.

I useally encouneter this at every Pre-poll I help at, we see each other as having different opinions open to change then rabid dogs.

You know the Liberals are dead when they only have oldies volunteering for them. Labor and Greens have plenty of young volunteers. That was my vibe at a Chisholm booth.

@Ian definitely wasn’t like that on the Gold Coast.

Standing in a gloomy Cairns today. Booth normally votes Labor. Feeling today among Volunteers is surprisingly positive for LNP despite retiring member factor.

We will know more after polls close but will be an interesting one to watch.

Polls suggest 52 to 53% 2pp Labor
This means there is capacity to win extra seats

I anticipate the Greens will only win Melbourne.

So – not long to go. Interested in the discussion here tonight.

Anyone know where the parties are spending their election eve in Clark?