It's election day! For some folks that means democracy sausages and a chance to have your say on how the next three years will look. For others, it's all a bit confusing.
If you're in the dazed and confused category, never fear, you're not alone and even better? We're here to help.
In the lead up to the election we've been pulling together a bunch of videos and tools to help you understand the Australian political system.
First up, let's walk you through a few things that could be helpful for today.
Start with Vote Compass. Answer a few quick questions and it will provide a simple map of how your views compare to the parties.
Want to take a closer look at where the major parties stand on policy issues? Read more here.
Now let's talk voting. Confused about preferential voting, or wondering what it even is? Triple J Hack political reporter Claudia Long explains preferential voting and how to vote above and below the line here:
We've got you covered on a local level – from who's running in your electorate to where and how to cast your vote. You can even create a mock-up of your own ballot papers to get you election-ready.
What happens if you've got COVID? You can still vote, but not in-person.
Want more?
If all this polling day stuff has whet your appetite for politics, we can also help you there.
Our Politics Explained (Easily) series is geared up to as the name suggests, explain politics in simple terms.
Let's start at the beginning. How does politics actually affect you? What are all the different levels of government, and how do they work together – and against each other? Nour Haydar breaks it down for us.
If you're wondering how federal parliament works, you're not alone. With two houses, a bunch of politicians and legislation it can seem a bit complicated. Fortunately, Claudia Long's got the 101 on how parliament works.
What about money? The government racked up more than $300 billion in debt during COVID… so who's going to pay for that? And how bad is it? David Chau explains government debt.
Laws touch everything in our lives, but how are they made? Who makes them? What is a bill? And where do you come in? Watch this one.
What do people mean when they talk about left-wing and right-wing? And do you know where you sit? Georgia Hitch walks us through it.
How about misinformation. When it comes to elections there's a lot of information flying around. So how can you tell what's true, made up or something in between? Ariel Bogle explained the SIFT method here.
And last but not least, how do I get involved in Australian politics?
When you don't see yourself in Australia's biggest decision-making rooms, then it can make politics and the idea of having your voice heard, or even changing the system seem pretty out of reach for just one person. Tahlea Aualiitia explains.
