In case you’re wondering what the Cowper candidates are hoping to win, following is an explanation on the House of Representatives and what it does. The lower house provides a number of important functions: it determines the government, debates and passes laws, watches over government administration and expenditure, and provides a forum for public debate on issues of national importance.

Voting for this year’s election will be different due to the fact it’s a double dissolution election. What does that mean? A double dissolution occurs when both the Senate and the House of Representatives are shut down (dissolved), in order for a federal election to take place. A double dissolution election is different to regular elections, when only half the Senate seats are contested.

The Coalition currently holds 90 seats and Labor 55 seats in the lower house, but following the redrawing of electoral boundaries in NSW and Western Australia, the Coalition holds a notional 89 seats and Labor 57 seats - with 76 seats representing the minimum number required to win government. 

The Australian Electoral Commission provides a range of information regarding voting. There is even a ‘practice voting’ page on the website, which lets you have a run through of what you’re expected to do on the day. You can check it out here – http://www.aec.gov.au/Voting/How_to_vote/practice/. 

In March this year following a marathon Upper House debate, the Turnbull Government’s Bill to change how Australians elect their senators was passed. The aim was to give voters more control over their preferences… or to put it another way, the more preferences you express, the more likely a candidate you favour will be elected.

The reason it became an issue was due to the widely criticised 2013 Senate election results, which saw minor parties such as Ricky Muir and his Australian Motoring Enthusiast Party elected with 0.51 per cent of the primary vote.

An important aspect of the legislative change is that group voting tickets have been abolished and preferential voting (of at least six candidates in order of preference) is now possible above the line.

This will mean parties are no longer able to decide where the preferences of voters who selected them above the line will flow.

So now you have two choices: you can vote above the line, specifying your preferences by numbering at least six boxes, from 1 to 6. Or you can vote below the line specifying your preferences by numbering at least 12 boxes from 1 to 12.

In both cases you can continue to number as many boxes as you like in your order of preference.

The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) has also deemed that a voter who marks only a single tick or cross in a square above the line is taken as having written the number one in the square and their vote is counted as valid.

Election night counting occurs in the polling place.

As has been the practice at previous elections, all ordinary House of Representatives votes will be counted in the polling place on election night, providing a first preference count and an indicative two candidate preferred count.

Ordinary Senate first preference votes (excluding Senate pre-poll ordinary votes) will be counted in the polling place on election night. This practice is no different to that applied at the last federal election.

Election night counting excludes postal and other declaration votes which must first undergo checks against the electoral roll (preliminary scrutiny) after election night.

The Senate has always taken longer to count than the House of Representatives. This reflects the size and nature of the task and the legislative time frames for the return of postal and declaration votes to home electoral divisions. Under the previous voting rules for the Senate, final results were often not known until three or four weeks after election day.

At the 2016 federal election, the Senate count will be conducted under the new voting method for the first time. The date of the final distribution of preferences to determine the Senators-elect will be pre-publicised, as has been the practice at previous elections.

Results for the House of Representatives and Senate are posted to the AEC's online Tally Room on election night, and until all counting is completed.

The AEC also provides a media feed so it can be incorporated into election night coverage. The Tally Room and the media feed provide continuous simultaneous results updates.

Early voting has commenced. Enter your postcode, suburb or electoral division in the box on our homepage to find where you can vote early.

Yes, under federal electoral law, it is compulsory for all eligible Australian citizens to enrol and vote in federal elections, by-elections and referendums.

After each election, the AEC will send a letter to all apparent non-voters requesting that they either provide a valid and sufficient reason for failing to vote or pay a $20 penalty.

If, within the time period specified on the notice, you fail to reply, cannot provide a valid and sufficient reason or decline to pay the $20 penalty, then the matter may be referred to a court. If the matter is dealt with in court and you are found guilty, you may be fined up to $180 plus court costs and a criminal conviction may be recorded against you.

You will receive a letter from the Australian Electoral Commission if according to our records you did not vote at a federal election. If you did vote, you should respond to the letter before the due date.

It is at the discretion of the Divisional Returning Officer for each electorate to determine what is a valid and sufficient reason for not voting.

Wayne Lawrence (Christian Democratic Party): at the time of publication, this profile had not been supplied. 

Michael Gough (Citizens Electoral Council): Michael is 54, married with a young family and operates a lawn-mowing contractor business in Port Macquarie. He said the Citizens Electoral Council (CEC) is fighting to revitalise Australia's productive industries, which are the backbone of a prosperous economy. Along with parity pricing, the CEC's immediate policy, modelled on the 1933 US Glass-Steagall Act, is to separate banking – investment from deposit taking - before the next global financial crisis, and before the banks start 'bailing-in' (skimming) everyone's bank accounts. Then, establishing a government-owned and directed national bank, where masses of new credit can be created for investment in nationally significant infrastructure development like high-speed rail; aligning Australia with China and Russia's development program of the One Belt One Road, World Land-Bridge.

Carol Vernon (Greens): Carol is a retired educator, who has lived in urban, regional and rural areas. Carol said that addressing social justice shortfalls must be a priority for the federal representative for Cowper, an electorate with one of the lowest median household incomes in Australia, high unemployment, an older and aging population, and decreasing youth access to third-level education. Carol wants a public health system without year-long elective surgery lists and long emergency waiting lists. She said that the constituents of Cowper also deserved excellent mental health facilities. Carol said that taking strong action to address the impacts of a changing climate is vital for Cowper, with its coastal towns, city foreshores and a very high rainfall feeding major rivers. She wants to create more jobs through the protection of native forests, soil and rivers and pursue renewable energy. Carol believes in sensible infrastructure spending, excellent rail services and a better NBN. She also supports local small business and industry, including local food production. “We must house our homeless and build desperately needed, well-planned public housing, accessed by a revitalised public transport system.”  

Damian Wood (Labor): Damian said he was proud to be running as the Labor candidate for Cowper at the upcoming federal election. He has lived on the NSW North Coast for the majority of his life, and as a local understands the community that he hopes to represent. Damian considers himself to be a regular person; “I practice a trade and work in the service industry”. In addition to having grown up and worked in the local area his entire working life, Damian has also served the community as volunteer firefighter. Damian is running as Labor’s candidate because he believes in delivering for our region, and claims the Nationals have taken this area for granted. “I will fight for better health, education and services delivered for our community. We live in one of the most beautiful places in the world, but we are not getting the proper representation we deserve.” 

Rob Oakeshott (Independent): “The $80 million Kempsey Hospital is looking fantastic, and I want to see more projects like that for the Macleay Valley.” Rob said the hospital was an important example of what can be secured by an Independent Member of Parliament, focused on, and working for you. Rob has heard all the attacks on his character from those wanting to divide the community to harvest votes for others and stands at this election in full knowledge that he’ll see that criticism dragged out again. Rob stands because he cares for the region too much to allow it to continue to be ignored. he wants to see more projects like the Kempsey Hospital and the completion of the Pacific Highway, and wants to secure more jobs and better opportunities in education for the region. “By standing, I give you the option to build a better community by seeking better representation in local and national politics.” 

Luke Hartsuyker (Nationals): Luke Hartsuyker is the Federal Member for Cowper, having served as the electorate’s Canberra representative since 2001. Prior to becoming the Federal Member for Cowper, Luke managed his family’s tourism business in Coffs Harbour. He also has experience in real estate and institutional property investment and development and is a Fellow of CPA Australia. Luke previously served as the Assistant Minister for Employment, Minister for Vocational Education and Skills and the Nationals’ Deputy Leader of the House. He implemented the new $6.8 billion Jobactive employment services system with a stronger focus on getting people into work and on the needs of employers. Luke was also responsible for the development of the $330 million youth employment strategy which supports young people at high risk of long-term unemployment. While Opposition Communications Minister, he developed the Mobile Black Spot Program which has since been adopted as Federal Government policy. Luke is married to Irene, who is a teacher, and they have two sons, Ben and Paul, who are studying at university. “The Coalition is delivering more funding for health and hospitals than ever before.” 

John Arkan (Independent): “I was born in Coffs Harbour, my grandfather first arrived from India in 1895. I am married and have four wonderful children”. John is a Coffs Harbour City councillor first elected in 2008, he also served as deputy mayor. John also runs a small catering business (Curriedaway). John wants Cowper to be prosperous. He said the region needs to be smart and use renewable technologies and support farmers and community in general. John opposes coal-seam gas fracking so that people have clean water and clean food. John said that farming counts, TAFE must be properly funded, and Gonski is gold because education counts. John said that Medicare and health facilities must be funded and made better as health is important. He wants a federal ICAC to watch politicians, believing that honesty is important. John said that an independent could help build a wonderful nation, and without fear wants to work together with the people of Cowper. “I will represent you and your needs, let’s make Cowper marginal.”