'It does feel a bit long': Lengthy pre-polling period could face review

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and senior Labor frontbencher Anthony Albanese have questioned if the three-week early voting period is too long.

Labor frontbencher Anthony Albanese says three weeks for pre-poll voting may be too long.

Labor and the Greens are downplaying the importance of preferences in some electorates. Source: AAP

The early-voting period is expected to be reviewed with senior figures on both sides of politics questioning if three weeks is too long.

According to the latest Australian Electoral Commission figures, since early voting started on April 29.

Labor frontbencher Anthony Albanese says three weeks for pre-poll voting may be too long.
Labor and the Greens are downplaying the importance of preferences in some electorates. Source: AAP


The tally is on target to smash through the one million mark on Tuesday.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said the early-voting period made it hard for MPs holding portfolio responsibilities to cover their electorates as well as other parts of the country.

"It does feel a bit long, three weeks," he told reporters in Melbourne on Tuesday.

"That's an issue that will probably be revisited by both sides of politics after this election."

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said he wanted to focus on convincing people to vote Labor.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said the early-voting period made it hard for MPs holding portfolio responsibilities to cover their electorate.
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said the early-voting period made it hard for MPs holding portfolio responsibilities to cover their electorate. Source: AAP


"We can review these things after an election but my focus is on the election," he told reporters in Geelong.

"One of the themes that is leading to early pre-poll activity is a mood for change. "

Labor frontbencher Anthony Albanese said the length of pre-poll voting should be reviewed.

"I would have thought that needs to be looked at," Mr Albanese told Sky News.

"I think pre-poll voting is very valuable but three weeks is a very, very long time."

He said up to two million people may vote before the coalition's official campaign launch on Sunday in Melbourne.

"We only had our launch on Sunday. The government is still trying to find some policies to launch next Sunday," he said.

Earlier in the week, independent MP Kerryn Phelps said people voting in the final week were doing so

"We need to look at that. Is that what we really want to see? Or should it really be compressed into a week and perhaps some postal voting," she said.

Independent Kerryn Phelps says pre-poll voting should be restricted to one week, not three weeks.
Independent Kerryn Phelps says pre-poll voting should be restricted to one week, not three weeks. Source: AAP




In 2007, pre-poll votes excluding postal votes were 8.2 per cent, rising to 22.7 per cent in 2016.

Adding postals, the early voting figure for 2007 rose to 13 per cent, while in 2016 it was 31 per cent.

A record 16.4 million Australians are enrolled to vote at this election with polls to close on May 18.


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3 min read
Published 7 May 2019 1:42pm
Updated 7 May 2019 2:31pm


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