The number of people voting early or pre-poll is similar to 2022 after the first week of reporting. That includes losing two days of voting thanks to Easter Monday and ANZAC Day, so four (4) days versus six (6) in 2022.

The last federal election was held in May 2022, so less than two months after two major floods ripped through Lismore and the Northern Rivers.

The flood affected the early voting centre for Lismore, which opened at the end of the first week (one day). The difference was made clearer in comparisons between Lismore and Goonellabah.

In Goonellabah, there were 2,546 early votes in the first week of 2022, and 2,904 in the second. In Lismore, the one day in the first week garnered 886 votes, while the second week had 7,062 votes counted.

In 2022, 12,360 people voted early, while in 2025, 14,410 people voted early in the first, shortened week. The people of Grafton led the way with 4,929 votes, followed by Goonellabah with 2,546.

If you want to avoid the crowds on election day this Saturday, May 3, or you don't care about the democratic sausage, early voting centres are:

• Lismore: 4 Zadoc Street, Lismore
• Goonellabah: Goonellabah Community Centre - 27 Oliver Avenue, Goonellabah
• Ballina: Richmond Room (Ballina Library), 5 Regatta Avenue, Ballina
• Casino: Casino Community & Cultural Centre, 35 Walker Street, Casino
• Maclean: Maclean RSL, 38 River Street, Maclean
• Grafton: Grafton Cathedral Hall (Edwards Hall), cnr Duke & Fitzroy Street, Grafton

This week, the early voting hours are:

• Now until Thursday, May 1: 8:30am to 5:30pm
• Friday 2 May: 8:30am to 6pm

On election day, voting is open from 8am to 6pm. Your list of voting venues can be found easily through the Lismore App's 2025 Federal Election button on the front page or by clicking Voting on Election Day

We asked the three major parties how early voting was treating them. Needless to say, they were positive without missing the opportunity for a political message.

Current Federal Member for Page Kevin Hogan said, "Numbers across the booths have been strong, with lots of people saying we need to change the government. We live in a wonderful democracy, and it's time to get this country back on track."

Labor's candidate for Page, Wendy Backhous, said, "At pre-poll on Saturday, I met many young people really interested in Labor's policy to rebuild TAFE and keep it free and our policy to reduce HECS Debt by 20%. They told me this will help them with their cost of living and their ability to save for their own house. They also liked the option of a 5% deposit to assist them to get their house sooner as they were starting a family very soon. I also met a young apprentice who was nearly finished his apprenticeship. He felt Labor's financial assistance was a very practical support for others to get started and stay with it." 

The Greens candidate for Page, Dr Luke Robinson, said, "The signs have been encouraging so far, with an emphatic response to our campaign across Page. Voters see that, unlike the old parties, we're offering serious, long-term, and fully funded solutions to cost-of-living issues, for example by fixing the housing crisis, and providing access to decent, free, universal public services, including education, childcare and healthcare."

The Lismore App will have election count updates for the seat of Page on Saturday night, once numbers start rolling in after polling booths close at 6pm on our Facebook page.