First-time voters: How much do they really know?

Story by CHRISTIANE BARRO
Photos by RANEE ORKLIN

Voting for the very first time in an Australian federal election can be an anxious yet exciting step for many newly enrolled voters.  

Just over 300,000 people aged 18-19 are registered to vote at this year’s upcoming election, according to the latest report by the Australian Electoral Commission. It is compulsory for Australians to enrol and to vote once they are 18. 

With a looming double dissolution on July 2, mojonews.com.au went out to gauge the feelings and views of Monash University students approaching their first federal election.  

Here’s what they had to say…

Tim, 18: “I think it’s between Mark Turnbull (sic) and the Liberals.”

Tom, 19: “I don’t really know enough about any of the parties. They don’t advertise well enough. They don’t tell us anything. You hear about the American election that’s currently going on and hear all about who the candidates are all their policies but you don’t hear about the Australian election so I don’t know who I’m going to vote for.”

Ella, 18: “I don’t really know anything about it so I’m just going to wing it I guess … at school we didn’t real learn much about it. My parents aren’t big preachers of it … I’ll probably just vote for the Greens just because it’s environmentally friendly."

Matthew, 19: “I intend to vote for the Liberal Party because I’ve done some research on Right-wing politics and in in terms of welfare, the Liberal Party's policies seem to align with mine as opposed to the Labor Party ... I vote for a particular party predominantly for their economic policies as opposed to their environmental policies. I do understand the environment is important but when it comes to a country’s welfare, I believe the economy comes first.”

Rohan, 19: “Honestly I don’t really care. Just not really into politics. I would research a little bit but I wouldn’t go too far into it.”

Paul, 18: “I’m probably not that understanding of politics as much as everyone else … I just want to vote for Malcolm Turnbull because he’s been doing well on the news and in the media so I just feel like he’s probably the best but I wouldn’t really know politically why he is the best person.”

Hugh, 18: “I guess I’ll talk to mum and dad, have a chat. I’m not really super into politics myself.”

Serina, 18: “I’ll probably vote for who my parents tell me to vote for.”

Mel, 19: “I’m not really too educated on politics. I guess I haven’t gone searching for that information. It’s not something that interests me a whole lot.”

Jim, 19: “(I’m) pretty excited but I also feel a little bit insignificant. I haven’t really got a strong opinion yet. I feel like my vote doesn’t really count.”

Bianca, 19: “I want the Liberal Party to win just because they support businesses and my dad owns a business”