AS WE count down the days to May 18, here is everything you need to know about voting in the 2019 federal election in Bendigo.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Is there still time to vote early?
There are three early voting centres in the region - in shop 45 in Mitchell Street, Bendigo; at the Abundant Life Christian Fellowship in Mackenzie Street West, Bendigo; and at Castlemaine's town hall in Lyttleton Street.
Find out each centre's opening times and details here.
If you are abroad, you can check whether the country you will be in has a consulate.
Click here for more details on voting abroad.
Where can I get a democracy sausage on Saturday?
It's a tradition of election day!
We've compiled a list of where you can vote and collect your democracy snag on Saturday. Check it out here.
And where are all the central Victorian polling booths for election day?
Bendigo suburbs
- Bendigo St Paul's Anglican Cathedral hall
- Creek Street Christian College, Bendigo
- Weeroona Pavilion, Bendigo
- Connect Church, East Bendigo
- Lightning Reef Primary School, North Bendigo
- California Gully Primary School
- Eaglehawk Secondary College
- Eaglehawk Senior Citizens
- Holy Trinity Anglican Church Hall, Flora Hill
- Abundant Life Christian Fellowship, Golden Square
- Golden Square Primary School
- Bendigo Baptist Centre, Junortoun
- Crusoe Secondary College, Kangaroo Flat
- St Monica's Primary School, Kangaroo Flat
- Kennington Primary School
- Long Gully Multi-Purpose Facility
- Maiden Gully Primary School
- Quarry Hill Primary School
- Spring Gully Tennis Club
- Strathdale-Conroy Pavilion
- Strathfieldsaye Sports Club
- White Hills Primary School
Outside of Bendigo
- Eppalock Primary School, Axe Creek
- Axedale Public Hall
- Big Hill Primary School
- Campbells Creek Primary School
- Castlemaine North Primary School
- Castlemaine Town Hall
- Winters Flat Primary School, Castlemaine
- Chewton Community and Senior Citizens Centre
- Elmore Primary School
- Elphinstone Public Hall
- Epsom Huntly Recreation Reserve Pavilion
- Epsom Primary School
- Goornong Community Centre
- Guildford Public Hall
- Harcourt Valley Primary School
- Heathcote RSL Hall
- Huntly Primary School
- Sacred Heart College, Kyneton
- Kyneton Sports and Aquatic Centre
- Lockwood Primary School
- Southern Cross Masonic Lodge Hall, Maldon
- Malmsbury Primary School
- Mandurang Public Hall
- Marong Public Hall
- Newham Primary School
- Newstead Primary School
- Raywood Public Hall
- Redesdale Mia Mia Primary School
- Eaglehawk North Primary School, Sailors Gully
- Taradale Primary School
- Tylden Primary School
- Woodend Buffalo Sports Stadium
- Woodend Primary School
- Woodvale Public Hall
Who can I vote for?
There are seven candidates standing for the seat of Bendigo, representing Labor, the Liberals, the Greens, the United Australia Party, Pauline Hanson's One Nation, the Rise Up Australia Party and Fraser Anning's Conservative National Party.
Rise Up Australia Party's Sharon Budde is a retired nurse and a housekeeper.
Liberal candidate Sam Gayed is a chartered engineer. He has lived in Bendigo with his wife and three children since 2013.
The Greens candidate, 27-year-old Robert Holian, is a first-time campaigner and a practising doctor in Bendigo.
Former councillor and anti-mosque protester Julie Hoskin will stand for Fraser Anning's Conservative National Party. She was last year declared bankrupt but has an application pending with the Federal Court in relation to an appeal. She declined to comment on how her financial status affected her decision to nominate.
Adam Veitch, of the United Australia Party, ran in 2007 as an independent. He has quit his job as a disability and mental health advocate with the Rights Information and Advocacy Centre to concentrate on his campaign this time around.
Vaughan Williams, the self-employed candidate for Pauline Hanson's One Nation, campaigned for a seat in local government in 2016. His bid to become a councillor in the Lockwood ward of the City of Greater Bendigo was unsuccessful, garnering 5.43 per cent of the first preference votes.
Labor's Lisa Chesters will again contest the seat she has held since 2013. She won the 2016 election with 53.74 per cent of the two party preferred votes.
Do I have to vote?
Yes. Not that you needed reminding. If you are over 18 and an Australian citizen you are obliged by law to vote, even if you are not in the country. If you don't vote you face a $20 fine.
I want to read the Addy's election coverage so far
Here you go!
- Julie Hoskin one of seven candidates bidding to become Member for Bendigo
- Bendigo set for far-right electoral showdown in 2019 federal election
- Fraser Anning candidate Julie Hoskin lodges appeal, claims bankruptcy is an 'injustice'
- Major parties band together to block extreme right: expert
- Pre-poll voting popular in Bendigo, Castlemaine and Golden Square
- How the Bendigo electorate shapes up
- In their own words: Where your candidates for Bendigo stand on these issues
Got any other questions?
Head to the AEC website for full details.
Have you signed up to the Bendigo Advertiser's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in central Victoria.