The only two countries in the World that have compulsory voting are Australia and the USSR which then bequeathed it to the present Russia.
It says a lot for our so-called democracy that we have to be made to vote.
It has of course corrupted the system so that it has become an auction to buy the vote of the swinging voter who has to vote but does not have to think about the reasons for voting.
Politicians are only interested in retaining power or gaining it and do nothing but pander to the swinging voter group. If they were not made to vote, they would not bother and would not be the main factor in installing governments.

This year I've had to apply for a postal vote and have already filled it out below the line and sent it back.

On my white ballot paper there were 60 candidates and very difficult to sort the wheat from the chaff even at home and with the help of my computer to analyse the various candidates. To attempt to do so without exceptional knowledge in a booth on polling day would be next to impossible, but it is your democratic right to take your time and give your candidate the best possible chance. To cast a blank ballot is to waste your vote, so don't go crook when the worst party (in your eyes) gets the top spot. If you don't vote, you have no further right to speak out against the political parties no matter who gets in.

And, you can vote for the Stable Population Party of Australia tomorrow by voting 1 for the Senate Group T. Bourke/O'Conner above the line in NSW only.

Also, I wonder what happens to those blank ballot papers? Taking all the back-stabbing antics we've seen in the run-up to the election, it wouldn't surprise me if some shonky deal was done to sneak them off to one of the two top hopefuls :-)

There's going to be 84 on mine.

But you can work out your preferences at...

https://www.belowtheline.org.au/nsw/

It tells you the preferences of all the parties, and you can use them as a template and edit them, then print it out to bring on the day.

Thank you Houellebecq,

I wish I knew about this site earlier, with all the information in one spot - it would have saved me long hours of researching. I also voted below the line and posted it already. I will certainly use this site on the next elections!

Congratulations!
This post gets the raspberry award of the week!
Latham is/was criticised before his latest bottom of the boot smelly ideas.

He has an axe to grind he wants to stop labor because they dumped him.

By not voting you achieve nothing neither party gives a toss at this stage they'll accept any win.

What you are ensuring is that the most negative side (most motivated) will win. Any psychologist will tell you won't is stronger than will if not why then did the Libs 27 out 28 ads simply slagged the opposition and said what they won't do not what they will.

If you want a Liberal govt then vote for it.

If you want to change policy either change the dysfunctional party system or join a party and change it. Doing nothing never changed anything.

Ludwig I said "the outcome of his election is crucial for us as a nation if we want some control over our own destiny."

You asked "how do you figure that sonofgloin?"

By control of our own destiny I was referring to our debt. When we are in debt the lender calls the shots, and the impact is that politicians then make decisions taking our foreign debt into account which negatively impact on the cash cow, you and me.

King Hazza you are of course right, your vote your choice, or not.

I do not know if it is a generational thing but even if the policies of the govt and opposition did not suit me I would vote in "this" election against those who are so blatantly incompetent of managing anything larger than a Labor party sub branch. What I am saying is I would vote to take the pain away, but obviously some do not feel the pain. An informal vote when the only pressing issues are domestic is your right but when the election directly relates to our "foreign" debt and the propensity to run it up, I would vote for the historically better managers of our economy even if I hated the shadow they cast.