Election round-up: Paterson prefers early voting while P&Cs embrace election day

A drawn out election campaign, the wish to avoid queues and COVID-19, and convenience have been cited as the reasons behind a record number of Australians turning out to vote early in the May 21 federal election.

AEC figures show 40.78 per cent of the Paterson electorate, which consists of 132,123 eligible voters, opted to cast their ballot early this election.

A total of 53,883 votes were cast between May 9, when early voting centres opened, and May 20, the day before the election. Additionally, the AEC issued 15,580 postal votes in Paterson and received 10,728 in return.

While a breakdown on telephone voting by division is not available, across Australia the AEC took 74,255 telephone ballots from COVID-affected voters on May 21.

Residents who did not cast their ballots early this election braved the rain on Saturday to turn out to public schools and halls across Port Stephens to vote.

There were fewer COVID-19 restrictions around the federal election compared to the council election in December, which was embraced by P&C's. Many school-based polling booths offered democracy sausages, baked goods and beverages - stalls manned by members of the P&C to raise money for their schools.

Wirreanda Public School was a popular polling booth, with voters lining up to wait at least 30 minutes throughout the day to cast their ballot.

However, the Medowie school's P&C had plenty of tasty treats to keep voters occupied and a petition for a public high school to be built in the town. Medowie Lions Club was on barbecue duties, Fighter Beans Cafe had coffee on the brew and the P&C was manning a political-themed bake stall.

Sweet treats included Vitnell's Vo-Vos (iced Vovos), Meryl's Melting Moments, Jacqui Lambingtons, Banana-By Joyce's (lolly bananas), Albanese's Living Wage Change (chocolate coins) and ScoMo's Coal (chocolate crackles).

P&C president Rachael Vaughan said the funds raised on Saturday would go towards making improvements to the school from a list created by its year 6 students.

Irrawang and Anna Bay primary schools had bake stalls on Saturday, while Soldiers Point Public School had a plant stall as well as a barbecue which raised more than $1650.

It wasn't just voters who braved the rain on Saturday but Paterson's seven candidates and their election volunteers, too.

At Medowie Public School on Saturday, Michael Collins was handing out how to vote cards for The Greens to do his part in securing a "sustainable future for all Australians" while Liz Raymond, accompanied by her pup Nugget, was handing out for the Liberal Party.

Williamtown resident Des Maslen was handing how to vote cards out for Labor. He said his support was born from Meryl Swanson's support of residents living in the PFAS 'red zone'.

At Wirreanda, Annette Mason handed out voting information for Pauline Hanson's One Nation. Ms Mason said it was the first time she had volunteered for a political party after becoming "disillusioned" with the two major parties. Long-time Medowie resident Jim Keane handed out for the United Australia Party.

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