If you met your local pollies at the pub, would you be more likely to vote for them?
Do gigs and parties get your vote? Some electoral candidates are trying to turn punters into voters in the lead-up to September 7.
At 1.02 metres long, the Australian Electoral Commission estimates the ballot paper on September 7 will be the longest in Victorian history.
In the fight to stand out at the polling booth, some electoral candidates are putting on their dancing shoes, trying to sex up their policies and appeal to young voters.
The Australian Sex Party is one of the 57 parties in the running for the Senate election.
The civil libertarian party held ‘Sex, Votes and Rock ‘n’ Roll’ at Fitzroy’s Evelyn Hotel on Sunday.
Political protester and singer/songwriter Georgia Maq was one of the performers at ‘Sex, Votes and Rock ‘n’ Roll’ at the Evelyn Hotel on Sunday.
Sex Party president Fiona Patten says we’re “dealing with dinosaurs” in Australian politics.
“For too long it’s been the domain of the middle-aged, middle-classed, grey-suited male,” Ms Patten said.
“I think now, in the 21st Century, we’re all aware that we can be political.”
Sex Party lower house candidate Adrian Trajstman said one of the party’s proposals is to extend the voting franchise to include non-compulsory voting for 16-18 year-olds.
“A lot of young people have their two cents to weigh in and they are active members of society,” Mr Trajstman said.
The event follows the Greens’ ‘Putting the party back into politics’ at Collingwood’s Gasometer Hotel back in April.
Greens Senate candidate Janet Rice says young people are interested in the big issues, not just having a good time.
“They’re interested in the future of our society, the future of the planet and a good, productive future for themselves,” Ms Rice said.
“There’s much greater likelihood that young voters are thinking about the big issues. They’re thinking about the life that lies ahead of them and what their future’s going to hold.”
Do gigs and parties get your vote? What’s going to be on your mind on September 7? Let us know in the comments.
