General News
23 April, 2025
Pre-poll voting commences in Kennedy
Voting booths opened in Mount Isa on Tuesday.
Despite working for the Australian Electoral Commission for many years, Val Bacon says it was more pragmatism than enthusiasm that made her cast her vote early.
In the minutes following the first booths opening at 8.30am on Tuesday, the long-time Mount Isa resident, along with her husband Peter, arrived at the Camooweal Street voting centre.
Val said she wanted to vote early to avoid any long lines.
“Both of us have medical disabilities, so if we vote early, we don’t have to line up for a long time,” she explained.
“I learned to keep my policy opinions to myself after working at the AEC for many years.”
Incumbent MP Bob Katter was the only politician on hand when the booth opened.
He said five decades in politics had taught him to “never take any election lightly.”
“It doesn’t matter if the odds are 100 to 1 or if the polls say you’ll win in a landslide, every election is different and you don’t know what will happen until the results are in,” he said.
The election is on May 3, although early voting is available in some communities.
