Prior to December, people living outside the Mallee electorate were likely to hear it was the safest seat in Australia.
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The electorate was placed into the national spotlight after sitting member Andrew Broad decided not to contest the 2019 Federal Election following his misadventure with a "sugar baby" in Hong Kong.
Across the past five months, a dozen people have campaigned to become the next member for Mallee alongside Mr Broad's chosen successor, Anne Webster.
Tomorrow - or already in the case of more than 8000 people who have voted early in Horsham - voters are spoilt for choice if they want to see change.
Voters have three independents, three major parties and seven minor parties all seeking their vote, giving them more options than any other electorate in Australia.
It means this election could make history as the first one at which the seat of Mallee will be decided on preferences, rather than the primary vote.
It means voters can choose from a wider range of ideas than ever before - be they an upgrade to the Wimmera River precinct through Horsham, domestic passenger flights from Horsham Airport or increasing financial assistance to local governments to name a few.
But it also means the need for voters to make an informed decision; to make sure the policies of the candidate people vote for most neatly align with their own priorities, has never been stronger.
As Dr Paul Williams told the Wimmera Mail-Times, change for the sake of change, as a protest vote, will not make any positive difference to the issues bedevilling the Mallee.
Some of the candidates contesting the seat have said it will not be the end of their involvement with politics in the region if they are not successful.
In the same way, Wimmera residents putting their green and white slips of paper in the ballot box should not be the end of their engagement with politics for another three years.
In the national media, Mallee has been mentioned in the same breath as other seats where the election result is expected to be worth watching.
Australia is paying attention to the Mallee - so what better time to be a squeaky wheel seeking grease from the new member, who will be in the national spotlight.
Alexander Darling, politics reporter
Alexander Darling
Alexander has been a member of the Wimmera Mail-Times' editorial team since December 2018, covering politics, business and property among other rounds. He is a passionate St.Kilda and rock and roll fan, and has previously worked as a radio reporter in Port Macquarie and Gosford, NSW.
Alexander has been a member of the Wimmera Mail-Times' editorial team since December 2018, covering politics, business and property among other rounds. He is a passionate St.Kilda and rock and roll fan, and has previously worked as a radio reporter in Port Macquarie and Gosford, NSW.
