Most polling booths close around 6pm - but you'll want to be there at least half an hour before 6pm, so that you have time to queue up. Some polling booths might close earlier than 6pm, so it's best to check the hours for your nearest booth.

Yep, you can definitely vote earlier! Pre-polling (aka, voting before election day) begins two weeks before the actual election date. So you'll be able to vote at any point from May 7th!

Not at all - the AEC has options for people who aren't able, or prefer not, to vote in person. You can submit a postal ballot, which you can organsie via the AEC website.

Yes, it absolutely still counts! Australia's voting system uses a preferential method, which simply means that if the person you put first doesn't get enough votes, your vote will go towards the person you ranked 2nd, and so on. We've got a good explainer about how this works in our Election Zine!

Only you can decide which candidate you want to support - and the best way to do that is to learn about what policies they support and where they stand on issues. Start by thinking about what issues matter to you and your community. Then, you can research each candidates policies by checking their website, their party's website, their social media pages, getting in touch with their office, and if they're currently an elected MP, you can see how they've voted in Parliament at theyvoteforyou.org.au.

There are lots of valid reasons people might have for not wanting to vote, like not trusting politicians or not wanting to participate in a system that they don't think is working. The best way to talk to people in your life about why voting matters is to listen to them and try to understand why they don't think voting is important. It's important to be as non-judgemental and curious as possible, so that people feel like they can comfortably share how they feel. Then, you can share with them your motivation for voting, and explain that voting for candidates who share the same values and goals as they do is a powerful way to help try and change the things that aren't working. Remind them that they will be one of millions of young people voting this election - more than any previous election.