Voting can be overwhelming
Let me help
PS: I’m below the line on the right hand side of the big paper
This video teaches you how to Vote below the line in the 2022 Federal election.
Politics is hard, and this is coming from someone who, as you might imagine, has spent a lot of time on it.
There is so much going on in the world, it's simply not possible to understand it all fully.
I've got links to some tools below that will help you work out who to vote for and how the system works.
I want you to vote for someone who best represents you, even if that isn't me.
Hopefully trying to help you out means something though.
Australia has a preferential voting system that encourages you to vote for the person who will best represent you. Which simply means, your vote can't be wasted.
Let me know if there are any other resources that you think I should add.
The AEC
The Australian Electoral Commission provides numerous resources that will help you learn how to physically vote.
ABC Vote Compass
The ABC is the most trusted news source in the country and by answering topical questions they help guide your voting.
-Only helpful for the major parties though.
smartvote Australia
They aren’t updated with the current Federal Election yet, but that’s because they send a quiz out to the candidates once they have been announced.
iSideWith
Website made by two friends that has some really useful features and questions. The questions are binary though, so less nuance.
Seems to be a handy guide.
Only major parties again.
ABC - Senate- Vic
Provided by Antony Green and his team, there are stats on previous election performance and links to most major parties websites.
If you want to take the deep dive you should start here.
Senate Voting Card Creator
This is a website to help you create a personalised voting card to print out and take with you on the day.
Mildly clunky but gets the job done.
It’s replacing the now defunct belowtheline.com.au
Most importantly it was sent to me by a wonderful lady named Jen
They Vote For You
This website allows you to see how your representative have voted on previous issues that matter to you.
It’s a deep dive and not something I’d recommend if you are standing in the ballot box unless you have only a few key issues.
OpenAustralia Foundation
This is the kind of organisation that I like and would like to fund. (they created “They Vote For You) What they do is excellent from both a transparency perspective and informing the public.
Something for Cate
I’m biased because Catherine said nice things about me last time.
Devastatingly she has passed away, but her friends are continuing her good work.
It’s a blog that summarises the political parties and independents in an easy to read way.
How to Vote in Australia
This is a useful video that takes 3 minutes and is fairly comprehensive and engaging.
It is from last federal election so it’s not perfect on the dates, but I like it anyway.
Democracy Sausage!
Tells you where the polling booths are and what they have for eating or snacking.
Science & Technology Australia
If science is the most important thing for you then you will find the answers to all of your questions here.
Provided the person hoping for your vote answered the questions.
Australian Christian Lobby
The ACL got in touch with me and I did complete their quiz. But the questions are so leading and worded in such a deceptive way that I will not be posting a link to it here. I do not think that it is a helpful tool for most anyone to decide who to vote for. I had to read and re-read the questions multiple times and think about the exact wording. I still was not happy with my answers. My results are available online, but you will have to google it yourself.
To be filled by a helpful follower
My email is vote1maxdicks@gmail.com
You are voting for a person, not a party or a policy.
No one knows what tomorrow will bring. The values of the person you help elect determine the decisions they will make tomorrow. It’s these values politicians use to direct the country.
What party a politician chooses to join shows some of the values that resonate with them. It gives you an insight into the individual.
It’s the individual that matters.
