It's been an eye-opening two weeks for Robert Redden.
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The president of Horsham's Liberal Party Branch has been drumming up last-minute support for Liberal candidate for Mallee Serge Petrovich, handing out how to vote cards at the early voting centre on Firebrace Street.
Mr Redden, who has been working shifts with four other volunteers, said he had been gifted many interesting conversations with pre-poll workers from different parties.
"Some of the other workers have farms and we talk about their crops," he said. "Others might talk about what their medical experiences have been in the region."
Mr Redden said he noticed younger voters declining printed out how to vote cards in favor of their smartphones. He believed there was still a need for volunteers.
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"Sometimes people come here without any clear idea of who the candidates are or how many, and they'll walk back out and ask for a card because they've realised there are 13 candidates," he said.
"The method of voting for the senate has changed too: It's no longer a matter of marking one above the line, you need to mark six, so we get questions about that. Generally we volunteers are fairly open and friendly with each other, and quite happy to help each other out."
As if to prove his point, Mr Redden's train of thought was interrupted by Alexander Kantonemi, campaigning for independent Jason Modica, handing him back one of the Liberal how-to-vote cards an early voter had discarded. Mr Kantonemi manages holiday rentals in his home town of Mildura.
He is taking time off work to campaign at early voting centres for Mr Modica, and was in Horsham having done the same thing at Swan Hill the day before.
"This is my first time volunteering, and I'm happy to make the commitment because I believe it's time for change in Mallee," he said.
"I've found voters are very happy to have a big selection of candidates, and you can get them to consider your candidate if you're cordial and helpful."
Australian Electoral Commission figures reveal as of Wednesday, 33,304 people had voted early across Mallee, 8077 at Horsham.
This represents nearly 30 per cent of all people enrolled to vote in Mallee, of which there are 113,778.
A total of 9003 people voted early at Horsham at the 2016 election, many of them on the final two days of pre-polling.
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