If you went down to Grenville Street North this week, you may well have joined the quiet revolution in the way our democracy works.
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As doors opened at the early voting centre on 9 Grenville Street North on Monday morning, it was clear that Ballarat has embraced a profound shift in the way we choose our politicians.
Voters clutched a rainbow of campaign leaflets as queues stretched out of the door and down the street. There were waits of an hour or longer as residents vied to be among the earliest to cast their votes on who represents us in Canberra.
While queues eventually died down, the stream of voters remained constant, as early statistics show. More than 5,000 people have cast their votes in Ballarat in the first four days alone - a leap of 60 per cent compared to the number of voters in the same time-frame in 2016.
This is a bit of convenience as my four-year-old is in kinder today - and we thought we would come down while we had the chance.
Of the voters The Courier caught up with, the majority said they would be away on election day, with pre-polling allowing them to travel. One couple, who were using the Grenville Street North booths to cast their vote for the Wannon electorate, planned to be in South Australian Outback on election day. Local voters Janice and Arena also planned to be away for a belated mother's day outing.
For others, early voting was simply the easiest option. Erin Reid, who was with her 18-month-old son Ryder, said: "This is a bit of convenience as my four-year-old is in kinder today - and we thought we would come down while we had the chance." Stan and Maureen Dreschler meanwhile said they simply wanted "to get it out of the way", saying they would rather spend May 18 gardening than queuing to vote.
Everyone The Courier talked to said the process had worked seamlessly. "I was told to put at least half an hour aside," one voter said. "But it was much quicker than that."
More choice and convenience - but not everybody is happy. Some observers lament the fact people won't be able to change their mind as the campaign evolves, while others say the process favours the well resourced, larger parties with an army of volunteers.
I don't want to make a song and a dance about it. I don't want them to shift - I respect their right as politicians. I just want to say this is affecting business, there's no doubt
- Rod McDonald, owner of Carpet Court
Closer to home, Rod McDonald, who runs Carpet Court right beside the pre-polling booths, said the voter queues and the swarms of volunteers manning the footpath were affecting his business.
"Our incoming customers have dropped considerably," said Mr McDonald, who says around 50 per cent of his business comes from people walking in. "I don't want to make a song and a dance about it - I am not going to go broke, and there's probably not much anyone can do about it. I don't want them to shift - I respect their right as politicians. I just want to say this is affecting business, there's no doubt."
However, Mr McDonald, a Liberal voter, also saw a funny side. "I'm letting the Liberal Party volunteers use the toilet, not the others," he joked.
How far will this go?
Officially, you still need a reason to exercise your democratic duty early, a quirk of the Commonwealth Electoral Act of 1918. But the application of the law has relaxed - even the Electoral Commissioner Tom Rogers has said there is no way for electoral staff to check people's reasons. With the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) pro-actively pushing the option, how big can this be in Ballarat?
It is much better than queuing up on election day. We don't need any of that processed sausage anyway
- Voter, Grenville Street North
Staff at the AEC say take-up is historically higher in regional cities such as Ballarat and Bendigo - but accurately forecasting the numbers is difficult. Historical data goes so far, but other factors also play a part - such as weather in Ballarat (voting dipped noticeably on a stormy Wednesday this week).
But with a slightly longer pre-voting time and another voting centre opening in Sebastopol later in the month, early signs suggest this represents a fundamental shift. If current voting rate continues - and the trend in Grenville St North is reflected elsewhere - The Courier calculates that around 44 per cent of the electorate may have cast their vote by election day - which is coincidentally the overall level of pre-polling at the state elections.
Of course, as AEC insiders say, there is no predicting the pattern. Voting levels surged just ahead of the official election day last time but people's habits may not have settled - and the climate may yet have its say.
But one elderly voter expressed the views of many when he said he would never go back: "It is much better than queuing up on election day. We don't need any of that processed sausage anyway."
How to cast your vote early
Ballarat Central: 9 Grenville St N
Opening times
Monday April 29 - Friday May 3 (8:30 -17:30)
Monday May 6 - Thursday May 9 (8:30 -17:30)
Friday May 10 (8:30 -18:00)
Saturday May 11 (9:00 -16:00)
Monday May 13 - Tuesday May 14 (8:30 -17:30)
Wednesday May 15 (8:30 -18:00)
Thursday May 16 (8:30 -17:30)
Friday May 17 (8:30 -18:00)
Sebastopol
Where: Phoenix College Tuppen Dr
Opening times
Saturday May 11 (9:00 -16:00)
Monday May 13 - Tuesday May 14 (8:30 -17:30)
Wednesday May 15 (8:30 -18:00)
Thursday May 16 (8:30 -17:30)
Friday May 17 (8:30 -18:00)
Wendouree: Ballarat Show Grounds Cnr Howitt St and Creswick Rd
Saturday May 11 (9:00 -16:00)
Monday May 13 - Tuesday May 14 (8:30 -17:30)
Wednesday May 15 (8:30 -18:00)
Thursday May 16 (8:30 -17:30)
Friday 17 May (8:30 -18:00)
Melton: Melton Uniting Church Hall 17 Yuille St
Opening times
Monday April 29 - Friday 3 May (8:30 -17:30)
Monday May 6 - Thursday May 9 (8:30 -17:30)
Friday May 10 (8:30 -18:00)
Saturday May 11 (9:00 -16:00)
Monday May 13 - Tuesday May 14 (8:30 -17:30)
Wednesday May 15 (8:30 -18:00)
Thursday May 16 (8:30 -17:30)
Friday May 17 (8:30 -18:00)
See the Courier's full Federal Election coverage here.
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