PRE-POLLING for the federal election has opened in the Swan Hill area with local residents eligible for early voting able to cast their vote at Stradbroke Hall.
The polling centre is open for the remainder of the week and next week before it becomes an interstate voting centre on election day.
The hall will be closed on Sunday, July 3 as Australian Electoral Commission officials count the votes.
Local voter Kyra Bennett, 19, cast her vote at Stradbroke Hall on Monday in what was her very first time voting in a federal election.
Labor candidate for Mallee Lydia Senior said pre-polling was gaining in popularity among voters like Ms Bennett.
Speaking to The Guardian from Mildura on Monday, Ms Senior said a steady trickle of voters had presented at the pre-polling centre in Mildura.
“I think this time it’s been a really long election campaign and (voters) know what (the politicians) stand for and want to get it over with,” she said.
“If they’ve made up their mind they’ll vote early.”
Ms Senior, who is campaigning on a platform advocating for health and education, said with more than a week to go some local voters might hold off on heading to the polls until all announcements have been made.
“People who are across politics might wait until the end on polling day,” she said.
You can vote at Stradbroke Hall on the corner of Stradbroke Avenue and Rutherford Street, Swan Hill.
