Voters are turning up in sluggish numbers as they prepare to elect a successor to former Prime Minister Scott Morrison, fomenting concern from Australia's electoral commission.
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On Saturday, the south Sydney seat of Cook will take to the polling booths after Mr Morrison announced his resignation in late January.
But early voting numbers are down 11.2 per cent compared to the 2022 federal election and 13 per cent compared to the Indigenous voice referendum.
Postal vote applications, which closed on Wednesday, are also down slightly.
Australian Electoral Commissioner Tom Rogers says this turnout is far below previous numbers for the electorate
"While by-elections traditionally have lower turnout than a full federal election, it's still below expectations, and just as important to have your say," Mr Rogers said.
"Typically if someone casts their vote early in one election, they'll do so in the next one - this is why the numbers we're seeing makes us worry about low participation."
Almost 19,000 people had cast an early vote by Wednesday, compared to roughly 21,100 votes cast at the same stage in the 2023 referendum and 20,769 at the same period in the 2022 federal election.
The Australian Electoral Commission has committed more communications for the Cook election than any single previous by-election, in an effort to increase awareness in the electorate.
"Failure to vote may result in a fine and will mean you have no say on who represents you in parliament," Mr Rogers said.
There are six candidates vying for the top spot in the seat including members of the Greens, the Animal Justice Party, the Libertarians, Sustainable Australia, the Liberals and an independent.
Though the Liberals experienced a swing against them in 2022, the party's candidate Simon Kennedy is expected to hold the electorate with a comfortable margin.
Labor has not put up a challenger.
Australian Associated Press
