Australians are voting earlier than in previous elections. Some parties have taken advantageBy Zena ChamasTopic:Voting7m ago7 minutes agoWed 30 Apr 2025 at 4:09amMore Australians are voting early in this election than in previous elections. (ABC News: Mackenzie Heard)abc.net.au/news/how-many-people-have-voted-already-prepoll-numbers-fe2025/105227960Link copiedShareShare articleApplications for postal voting in the 2025 federal election close at 6pm on Wednesday.So far, a record 2.6 million people have applied for a ballot paper via the post.But far more have attended early voting centres across the country.The figures point to change in voting patterns with Australians choosing to vote early in record numbers this election.With just days to go, let's break down the numbers.How many people have voted so far?Pre-poll numbers show that more than 4.03 million people have already voted — a considerable jump since the 2022 election.That's more than 22 per cent of enrolment.At the same point in the 2022 campaign, 3.2 million voters had cast their ballots early, according to Australian Electoral Commission data.The latest figures represent a 125 per cent increase on the previous campaign.But why are more people voting early?Political experts say it's not just about avoiding the long queues on May 3 but could be an emerging trend.Professor of Australian Politics at the University of Sydney, Rodney Smith, said more people could be voting earlier to fit in with their work schedules and lifestyle."The greater availability of early voting centres, more knowledge among voters that they can vote early, and that it is often more convenient to do so," he said."[Early voting] is certainly about convenience but that is not necessarily a bad thing.He said if early voting wasn't allowed, pre-poll voting would be "much more cumbersome".But early voting is not new, and doesn't seem to be going anywhere, according to La Trobe University's Phoebe Hayman, whose research focuses on political participation."It's really escalated at this election, but it has been a trend that we've been seeing pop up in a number of elections now," she said.Has early voting changed election campaigns?Ms Hayman said political parties had changed their campaign trails to target early voters."[The early voting trend] is one that parties have been taking into account and adapting to," she said.Ms Hayman said many parties had now moved to the "permanent campaign" model to target more voters."Parties now just need to start campaigning a lot earlier, and to release major policies and their big selling items pretty early on in the piece," she said.AEC warns coal-funded group over postsPhoto shows Five people on a beach are shown from behind running into the water as the sun rises.A coal industry-funded group campaigning against progressive candidates in the federal election has deleted two months of social media posts after being pulled up by the Australian Electoral Commission over unauthorised content. But Professor Smith said while the major parties launched their campaigns earlier this time around, other parties have not yet caught on."[Other parties] needed to get their early voting centre teams organised for a 10 to 12-day period to target early voters," he said."Rather than just mobilising their forces on polling day …[parties] need to get more of their policies out earlier."Ms Hayman said smaller parties, like the Greens, had focused on community-based campaigning this time around."We're also seeing with the independents and in campaigns … with The Greens, that ongoing shift to community-based campaigning and on-the-ground efforts, which start months, if not years, in advance of the election," Ms Hayman said.Postal voting hits recordWhile many get in early, others have opted to vote via post for many reasons.A record 2.6 million people have applied for a postal vote for the 2025 federal election so far, according to the AEC.But that does not necessarily mean all those who have applied will vote via post — people may change their mind and vote on the day or during pre-poll.More than 100,000 votes have also been cast with mobile voting teams, largely in regional areas.Loading...Electoral Commissioner Jeff Pope said it was extraordinarily difficult to service some people who applied for postal voting at the last minute, depending on their circumstances."If you can vote in-person, that's what you should do," Mr Pope said.Stay updated:Federal election live updates: Get the latest news from the campaign trailCatch the latest interviews and in-depth coverage on ABC iview and ABC Listen"Postal vote applications have been open for a month now and we've been consistent in encouraging people to apply as early as possible if they need a postal vote."Clearly most people have listened to our messages, and we thank them for that."While we appreciate that for some people in-person voting isn't an option for their circumstances, Australia does have some of the best in-person voting options in the world with thousands of venues available," he said.Posted 7m ago7 minutes agoWed 30 Apr 2025 at 4:09amShare optionsCopy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)Top StoriesPM addresses National Press Club ahead of campaigning blitzLIVEPhoto shows Anthony Albanese holds hands with his fiancee as they smile and walk into a rally.Inflation 'clears way' for RBA interest rate cut in MayLIVEPhoto shows RBA buildingHeadline inflation stable at 2.4pc while RBA's preferred measure drops within targetTopic:InflationPhoto shows Cash money in a purse with a calculator, tea towel, list of bills on a notepad and a penThere's a reason Dutton can't resort to a scare campaign with older AustraliansAAnalysis by Annabel CrabbPhoto shows Peter DuttonHolmes à Court fuels movement that denies he will have seat at tableTopic:Political Parties and MovementsPhoto shows shac tealRelated storiesEarly voting becomes new normal in AustraliaTopic:VotingPhoto shows Line of people voting at Perth polling station.Related topicsAustraliaAustralian Federal ElectionsPolitical Parties and MovementsVotingTop StoriesPM addresses National Press Club ahead of campaigning blitzTopic:Australian Federal ElectionsPhoto shows Anthony Albanese holds hands with his fiancee as they smile and walk into a rally.Inflation 'clears way' for RBA interest rate cut in MayTopic:Stock MarketHeadline inflation stable at 2.4pc while RBA's preferred measure drops within targetTopic:InflationThere's a reason Dutton can't resort to a scare campaign with older AustraliansAAnalysis by Annabel CrabbHolmes à Court fuels movement that denies he will have seat at tableTopic:Political Parties and MovementsJust InWatchdog finds pressure on pilots a factor in plane's highway crashTopic:Air Incidents3m ago3 minutes agoWed 30 Apr 2025 at 4:13amMore than 4 million Australians have already voted. 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