The ABC is set to name its third Australian Insect of the Year in 2026, and audiences can take part in choosing the winner. A quiz created with the CSIRO invites readers to test what they know about native bugs, beetles, bees and butterflies. Six finalists have been shortlisted for the title, and voting remains open until the end of October. Readers are encouraged to explore the candidates before casting their preferred vote.
Victorians have until 8pm on Tuesday, November 3, to enrol or apply for a postal vote, which is one week earlier than in previous elections. Candidate nominations open on November 4 and close at midday on November 9. Early voting begins on November 18 and ends on November 27, while polling booths close at 6pm on Saturday, November 28. Monash University political scientist Zareh Ghazarian urged voters to check their enrolment details early, saying close seats could decide who forms government.
New Zealanders have begun voting ahead of polling day on November 7. Prime Minister Chris Luxon is seeking a second term for his coalition of National, ACT and NZ First. Labour, led by Chris Hipkins, is trying to regain government. Recent polls show the right bloc narrowly ahead of the left bloc. The new Opportunity party could be decisive if it wins five per cent of the vote to enter parliament.
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Victorians vote on Saturday, November 28, in a state election that could end Labor's 12 years in government. Opinion polls show Labor, One Nation and the Coalition each have about a quarter of first preference votes. The Coalition is the favourite on a two-party basis, but One Nation could hold the balance of power in a hung parliament. Enrolment closes at 8pm on Tuesday, November 3. Early voting opens on November 18, and postal vote applications open on November 4.
Victorians have less than two weeks to check they are enrolled before the 2026 state election on Saturday 28 November. The Victorian Electoral Commission says the electoral roll closes at 8 pm on Tuesday 3 November, Melbourne Cup Day. Enrolment and voting are compulsory for Australian citizens aged 18 and over. First-time voters turning 18 by election day should check whether they need to enrol. Voters can cast ballots at early or election day voting centres, by postal vote, or through assisted options.
A new study found that when forced to choose in the upcoming US midterm elections, Grok 4.7 recommended Republican candidates in 92% of answers. OpenAI's GPT-6.1 Sol picked Democrats in 97%. The researchers, from a Cornell University-led studio, said the two models agreed less than 10% of the time across nearly 500 races. OpenAI said the study tested a developer API with a prompt demanding a candidate pick, and that its consumer app is designed to be objective. The study comes less than two weeks before the November 3 midterms.
Coffs Harbour voters will go to the polls on Saturday 12 December to fill a single councillor role. The NSW Electoral Commission will run the by-election after Paul Amos resigned from the council. Voting is compulsory, and residents are urged to check their enrolment details online, especially if they have recently moved. Mayor Nikki Williams said the community will choose a candidate to represent them on council. Early voting opens on 5 December, and results are due on 31 December.
A small crowd in Warrnambool heard from two former staffers about the behind-the-scenes business of politics. The forum was organised by the Good Company Collective, a south-west Victorian women-led networking group. Former Labor staffers Bindi Gove and Sean Sammon took audience questions on why parties release policies gradually and how much influence staffers have. Attendees also asked about preferential voting, the upper and lower houses, and postal voting. Organiser Gabrielle Toscan said the event aimed to give the community access to experts rather than promote party politics.
The title is a reminder to enrol to vote at the state election. The supplied text, however, contains only unrelated headlines from a local news page, including a juvenile elephant seal returning to the ocean at Port Campbell, a volunteer funding story, a resurfacing update and a final fundraiser. None of these items concern enrolment or the state election, so no details about voting procedures, deadlines or enrolment requirements can be confirmed from the material provided.
Tasmania's council elections are entering their final week, with a significant overhaul of local government on the cards. The number of councillors statewide is being cut from 263 to 213, and several high-profile mayors are not seeking re-election. Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds is among those leaving the role. Around 55 per cent of ballots had been returned as of Wednesday, according to the Tasmanian Electoral Commission. Voting is mandatory, and penalties of up to $42.60 may apply to those who fail to return their ballots by the deadline of 2pm on Tuesday, October 27.
Indian-born residents have overtaken British-born residents to become Australia's largest migrant group, as the immigration debate grows louder. Polling by Redbridge suggests Labor holds a marginal lead among Indian Australian voters against the Victorian Liberals, and a wider lead against One Nation. Some Indian Australians say immigration rallies targeting their community have left them hurt. Political strategists say the Victorian Liberals have courted the community through education policy, while parties are urged to speak more clearly about the value of migration.
Victoria's electoral commission will open one low-sensory voting centre in each of the state's 88 lower-house districts ahead of the 28 November election. The centres open on 17 November, a day before other early-voting sites, and are staffed by trained mobile voting teams. They aim to offer a quiet, low-stimulus environment for neurodivergent voters and those with sensory needs. The program follows trials at by-elections in Warrandyte, Prahran, Werribee and Nepean, where attendance was recorded. Campaigners remain allowed nearby, subject to standard six-metre exclusion zones.
Coffs Harbour voters will go to the polls on Saturday, 12 December, to elect a new councillor. The date was confirmed by the NSW Electoral Commission after councillor Paul Amos resigned earlier this week. Voting is compulsory, and eligible residents are urged to check their enrolment details. Mayor Nikki Williams encouraged everyone eligible to make sure their details are current. Further voting information is expected early next week, with updates available from the council and the NSW Electoral Commission website.
The Navy says a video recording device found in a women's shower on a naval ship was a despicable betrayal of trust. An ADF member is described as a person of interest. Independent senator Jacqui Lambie said she was not surprised by the device being found on the vessel. Senator David Shoebridge said Steele-John is entitled to fair process. Communications Minister Anika Wells is due to introduce a digital duty of care bill today.
South Australians are being encouraged to consider standing for council in the April 2027 elections. A statewide Shape Your World campaign, run by the Local Government Association of South Australia and the Electoral Commission of South Australia, offers free online resources to help people decide. Candidate nominations open on 26 January 2027 and close at noon on 9 February 2027. Voting is by postal ballot and closes at 5pm on 7 April 2027. The elections were moved from November 2026 at the Electoral Commission's request.
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Voting is open until 1 November for the people's choice award in the Snapshots of Seddon photography competition. All 37 entries are on display in several shopfronts across Seddon, including cafes, a physio clinic, a butcher and a design store. Many of these shopfronts also have voting boxes or ballots. Winners in the people's choice award and the other categories will be announced next month. Competition organiser Seddon Village Traders Association encourages people to walk around the village and view the photos before casting their vote.
Victorians aged 18 to 44 make up 44 per cent of enrolled voters ahead of the state election on Saturday 28 November. The Victorian Electoral Commission has launched a statewide advertising campaign with information about enrolment and voting. Electoral Commissioner Sven Bluemmel urged all eligible Victorians to take part and to enrol, understand their voting options and vote by 6pm on election day. The campaign will also address false or misleading information about election processes.
PerthNow Pulse has shortlisted five bakeries for its 'Best Bakery' award, following a high number of nominations. The finalists are Kilo Bakery in Padbury, Honey’s Patisserie in Byford, Last Crumb Cake Co in Bassendean, Dough Street in Balcatta, and Layers Bakery in Subiaco. Voters can choose their favourite until 5pm Tuesday, with options ranging from sweet pastries to savoury pies. The competition follows previous PerthNow Pulse awards for best parma and footy pub. This is the third category in the series, with readers encouraged to participate before the deadline.
