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Byron Shire
August 29, 2026
Local NewsFederal electionRichmond ElectorateElections

Early voting open for the ‘key seat’ of Richmond

By The Echo

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If you don’t want the challenge of voting on Saturday, May 3 you can head to your local pre-polling stations and cast your vote early. The electorate of Richmond covers Tweed Heads, Murwillumbah, Cabarita, Casuarina, Pottsville, Mullumbimby, Brunswick Heads, Byron Bay and parts of Ballina. 

This seat has been held by Labor’s Justine Elliot for the last 20 years and is considered a ‘key seat’ by ABCs Antony Green after the close race by the Greens candidate Mandy Nolan in the last federal election. 

During the 2022 election the seat was a three way contest between Labor’s Justine Elliot, Greens Mandy Nolan and Nationals Kimberly Hone.

Who the hell is what?

Some of the parties that are running seem benign, but really aren’t once you get under the hood. For a quick guide to who represents what according to environmental sustainability and social equity check out our The good, the bad, and the ugly: 2025 election senate voting guide – from identifying the ‘harmless hippies who like pot’ to those who have been ‘standing up for racist bigots since 1996’ – we’ll give it to you like it is.

Candidates for the House of Representatives (Lower House) in order of ballot are:

Mandy Nolan – Greens 

Justine Elliot – Incumbent, Labor MP

Kevin Loughrey – Independent

Ian Mye – One Nation 

Vivian Mac McMahon – Legalise Cannabis Australia

Phillip Byron Peterlin – Trumpet of Patriots

Kimberly Hone – National Party

Ian Cherry Willis – Liberation Party

James Ian McKenzie – Independent

Richard Curtin – Gerard Rennick People First

For the Seat of Richmond you can pre-poll at:

Byron Community Centre, 69 Jonson St, Byron Bay

Jessie McMillan Hall, 16 Wollumbin St, Murwillumbah

Casuarina Hockey Club, 1 Barclay Dr, Casuarina

4 Zadoc St, Lismore

Richmond Room, 5 Regatta Ave, Ballina

Seagulls Club (Office Space Ground Floor), 54-68 Gollan Dr, Tweed Heads West

Twin Towns Masonic Centre, 8 Boyd St, Tweed Heads

For further information on opening times go to the Australian Electoral Commission(AEC) website. 

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