Voting has begun in Cowra, as politicians scramble to win the final few votes before Election Day on 3 May. Estimates placed about 650,000 Australians at early voting venues across the country the day after the ANZAC Day holiday, congregating at churches, schools and community halls to have their say seven days before Election Day. The electorate of Riverina, which covers Cowra, Woodstock and surrounds up to the Belubula River and Canowindra, is considered by analysts as a safe Nationals seat, held by Michael McCormack since 2010 with a 9.7 per cent margin in his favour. Cowra's Uniting Church early voting centre saw wait times blow out to almost an hour long over the weekend, with volunteers passing the word down the line to residents. Without a democracy sausage sizzle to settle hungry stomachs, Australian Electoral Commissioner Jeff Pope encouraged those who could vote on Saturday May 3 to do so. “If you can vote on election day ... then that is what you need to do. If you can’t then you can vote at one of our many early voting centres across the country. I encourage all voters to consider their circumstances and plan their vote,” he said. “The bulk of our work still happens on election day, but for a variety of reasons it’s clear from past elections that more Australians are needing to access early voting options. Just over half of all voters cast an early vote, including a postal vote in 2022, and we expect that number to be similar this year.” Mr Pope reminded residents that all Australian citizens are required by law to vote, as a crucial part of Australian democracy and culture, to have their say and make a difference in their communities. “No matter whether you’re in remote Australia or on the other side of the world, the AEC is pulling out all the stops to reach you,” he said. “Australian elections are unique and special in many ways – including the variety of voting options provided. In many democracies around the world people have just a single location and single day to cast their vote.”
