Volunteers: The parties were out in force handing out how to vote cards on Wyndham St.
The first day of early voting saw a steady stream of voters pouring in to 318 Wyndham St to cast their ballots ahead of Federal Election day on May 21.
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Most early voters were there on day one to avoid queuing for hours, such as Elizabeth Sheriff, who said her mind was made up a long time ago.
“I thought I’d get it done before things got to busy ... and because of COVID,” she said.
Cassie Mason from Numurkah said she voted early because of the travel involved and because getting in early was more convenient given her two kids’ schedules.
Katrina Wright from Shepparton will be busy working on election day; her mind made up well in advance too because her husband is in the Liberal Party.
Holiday and travel plans were a big factor in early voting, with many finding it convenient to get it out of the way before their trips.
The Batties family were there first thing because they would be away camping on the day.
Pre-polls: Coalition volunteers were out in force as voting stations opened for day one of early voting.
The Baylises, from Darwin on holiday, happened to find themselves in Shepparton when polling stations opened.
Jack Dell was getting it out of the way because he would be in Queensland on a golfing trip on May 21. His wife, Liz, who came into town to run errands with her husband, waited outside, opting to hold her vote until election day.
Voters were politely approached by the candidates’ volunteers, who were set up out the front of the voting station waving how to vote cards.
Coalition supporters were out in force, with three volunteers in blue for Liberal candidate Steve Brooks and five volunteers, along with retiring Member for Nicholls Damian Drum, out for Nationals candidate Sam Birrell.
Not to be outdone, independent candidate Rob Priestly was on the street among the punters handing out how to vote cards and speaking with voters beside his two volunteers.
The Coalition has indicated that the challenge from Mr Priestly is a serious threat to its hold on Nicholls.
Regular high-profile visits from Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce and Senator Bridget McKenzie in the weeks leading up to the election have included strategically timed promises of federal funding.
Also staking out the doors to the ballot boxes were two One Nation volunteers for Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell.
The one splash of red in the crowd was the lone Labor volunteer representing Bill Lodwick. Aged 82, the volunteer has been voting Labor “through thick and thin” since he was 18.
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