Election day is almost upon us though many of us have chosen to miss out on our democracy sausage.
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The Australian Electoral Commission said that as of Tuesday around three million people had cast their vote at an early voting centre with around 400,000 voting on that day alone.
Still, a likely 14 million will go to the polls on Saturday, May 18 including around 80,000 people in our seat of Kennedy so here's everything you needed to know about the election but were too busy to ask.
How to Vote
You will need to vote in the lower house election (the green ballot paper) and the upper house election (the white ballot paper). In the lower house you need to vote ALL names on the ballot in order of preference. For instance there are six names on the Kennedy ballot so you need to vote them one to six in what ever order you want. Or if you want to follow a particular party line then follow the suggestions on that party's how to vote card (see more on that later).
In the upper house (white ballot paper) you have a choice of two ways to vote.
You can either vote for parties above the vote to follow those parties from one to at least six (though you can vote more than six if you wish).
Otherwise you can vote for individual candidates below the line from 1 to at least 12 (though you can vote more than 12 if you wish).
Where can I vote?
Voting beforehand in the North West can be done here.
Voting on Saturday May 18 can be done at the follow locations from 8am to 6pm.
Mount Isa - Barkly SS, Central SS, Happy Valley SS, Healy SS, Sunset SS and Spinifex Senior Campus.
Boulia State School
Cloncurry State School
Croydon State School
Doomadgee State School
Georgetown State School
Gununa, Mornington Island PCYC
Hughenden RSL
Julia Creek State School
Karumba State School
Normanton Shire Hall
Richmond Shire Hall
Who can I vote for?
In the lower seat of Kennedy, which covers all of North West Queensland (plus a lot more besides), there are six candidates.
In order of the ballot draw they are 1) Sue Bertuch (United Australia Party) 2 Bob Katter (Katter's Australian Party) 3 Lyle Burness (Greens) 4 Ian Hackwell (Fraser Anning's Conservatives) 5 Frank Beveridge (LNP) 6. Brett McGuire (ALP)
In the Senate 24 political parties and fourteen independent candidates are fighting for Queensland's six vacant Senate positions.
What are their policies and how will they do?
In Kennedy order of ballot, 1 is Sue Bertuch, in Clive Palmer's latest vanity project the United Australia Party. Ms Bertuch is a small business owner from Cairns who wants a 20 percent tax break for all those who live and work outside a 200 km radius of Brisbane.
Verdict: with Mr Palmer's astonishingly big advertising budget behind her, and a likely donkey vote, expect Ms Bertuch to be "best of the rest"
Number 2 is Bob Katter. The eponymous leader of the Katter Party is the sitting member since 1993. He has more ideas than a bag of snakes and is madder than a cut one. Pushing hard on irrigation projects, Copper String and his beloved canal to Burketown to export phosphate.
Verdict: It doesn't matter what you say about Bob. His vote is rusted on and he will win a tenth successive term of office
Number 3 is Greens candidate Lyle Burness. He is campaigning on the need for health, education and broadband services that city people enjoy and take for granted. But won't be coming to Mount Isa.
Verdict: will do well on the coast but not so much Greenie love inland. Will be in a race with the UAP for fourth.
Number 4 is Ian Hackwell. Fraser Anning's drop in candidate. The less said the better.
Verdict: Will appeal to the haters among us. You know who you are. Stone motherless last.
Number 5 is Frank Beveridge. The LNP candidate and former Charters Towers mayor came out swinging against Bob Katter in the final weeks of the campaign. Says Kennedy is losing out on serious funding because it is not won by the major parties.
Verdict: Will finish second but even in the unlikely event he could push Mr Katter past a first count, will lose on Labor preferences.
Number 6 is Brett McGuire. Labor's candidate and a mining electrician, he is pushing Labor's changes to labour hire laws and increased funding to health and education.
Verdict: A relative unknown he has had to work hard to cut through in a big electorate. Should increase their 2016 primary vote of 19% but will still finish third.
How to vote cards
Sue Bertuch: 1 UAP 2 LNP 3 KAP 4 ALP 5 Greens 6 FA
Bob Katter:
A Bob each way, depending on whether you prefer ALP or LNP:
#1 1 KAP 2 UAP 3 ALP 4 LNP 5 FA 6 Greens
#2 1 KAP 2 UAP 3 LNP 4 ALP 5 FA 6 Greens
Lyle Burness No HTV
Ian Hackwell No HTV
Frank Beveridge: 1 LNP 2 UAP 3 KAP 4 ALP 5 Greens 6 FA
Brett McGuire: 1 ALP 2 Greens 3 KAP, 4 LNP 5 UAP 6 FA
Voting by post?
You must correctly complete your ballot papers, seal them inside the envelope provided, sign that envelope and have it witnessed. But hurry - you need to do it before the close of polling on election day.
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Derek Barry
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
