DESPITE a Victorian State Election being less than two months away, a survey of district residents reveals little knowledge of – and minimal interest in – the subject.

Discussions between the Casterton News editor and several readers – who indicated they had no idea who spoke for them at a State Government level – prompted our survey, last week.

Respondents were asked name both the Upper and Lower House electorates in which they lived and voted and to name any or all of their representatives, in those respective seats.

The survey found 65 per cent of respondents could not name either the Lower Upper House electorate in which they would be voting, nor could they name their representatives in State Government.

Just five per cent successfully identified Lowan to be the name of the Legislative Assembly (Lower House) electorate, but a quarter correctly named Nationals MP, Emma Kealy, as its representative.

However, several respondents guessed Glenelg Shire Councillors Karen Stephens or Anita Rank to be their state representative.

Only five per cent of respondents could name Western Victoria as the Legislative Council (Upper House) electorate, or any of its five representatives, with the Labor’s Jaala Pulford and the Coalition’s representative, Liberal Bev McArthur, the most recognised.

Casterton district residents are also represented in the Upper House by Animal Justice Party leader, Andy Meddick and the Justice Party’s Stuart Grimley – both largely unknown among survey respondents.

Another five per cent incorrectly said the district was in the Western Province electorate for the Upper House.

Casterton was formerly within the Western Province, but the electorate was abolished in 2006 after a restructure of the Upper House and all territory within it became part of the Western Victoria region.

Several respondents said they did recognise the names of the Lowan electorate and its sitting member, Emma Kealy, after being told the correct answers.

Additionally, around 30 per cent indicated a lack of interest in politics as their reason for unsuccessfully naming any electorates or representatives while some indicated that following the survey, they would look up the electorate they were in.

Make your vote count

THERE is still plenty of time to be ready to vote before the 26 November election date, with campaigning to kick into high gear across next month.

Postal vote applications will open on Wednesday, 2 November and close exactly three weeks after.

Voters have until Tuesday, 8 November to ensure their details are up-to-date and accurate before the electoral roll closes.

Nominations for political parties’ candidates and independents close on 10 and 11 November respectfully, with ballots to be drawn Friday 11.

Early voting opens from 9am on Monday 14 and closes Friday 25, before the election is held on Saturday 26.

The boundaries of both the Lowan Electoral District and the Western Victoria Region in which Casterton residents will be voting have expanded, which does not directly affect local voters but will see people in additional areas have a say on the same representatives.

The last redistribution occurred prior to the 2014 election and a redistribution is required when two elections have taken place since.

Local voters will be joined by more than 7000 additional voters in selecting the Lowan district’s representative for the next four years, following the most recent changes in electoral boundaries.

The expanded boundaries of the electorate now also incorporate areas around Mortlake (previously in the Polwarth electorate), Stawell (Ripon) and Caramut (South-West Coast).

Alongside Ms Kealy, who will seek to retain Lowan a second time, the Animal Justice Party’s Tamasin Ramsay and independent Amanda Mead – the latter of whom had previously stood for the seat of Wannon with the Liberal Democrats – are also confirmed as candidates for the seat, with all candidates to be confirmed once ballots are drawn.

The Western Victoria Region in the Upper House has lost some area to the north of St Arnaud and gained other area between Melton and Melbourne.

The VEC has also had its foot on the pedal to drive broad public awareness ahead of the election, encouraging voters to enrol, vote and sort fact from fiction before the 26 November date.

Locals can expect to see a reprisal of VEC advertising featuring the ‘paper people’ from the 2014 and 2018 elections.

Deputy Electoral Commissioner, Dana Fleming said two additional campaigns were being rolled out.

“We have developed a media literacy campaign to build public awareness on identification of misinformation and disinformation campaigns,” she said.

“We invite voters to visit our website for tips and to check our online misinformation register.”

Electoral misinformation has been heavily highlighted in recent years and the Australian Electoral Commission, which is responsible for overseeing federal elections, was engaged in a large social media campaign to actively address deceptive commentary.

Ms Fleming also said young, “disengaged” voters who felt their vote made no difference, would be targeted in the VEC’s campaigning.

“Elections can be won or lost on less than a dozen votes – every vote really does count,” she said.