An ad came on the television. The deep bass voiceover complemented the ominous horror-movie music. I turned to my mother, smiling. 'Hey Mum, this is my first campaign ad for an election where I'm actually allowed to vote!'
The election campaign began, for me at least, with my social medias begging me to vote. Or maybe a little earlier, when I anxiously read articles about proposed changes to HECs and Safe Schools.
If the stereotype about young people, enrolled or not, is their lack of engagement, then this election has certainly changed that luxury. And of course, it is privilege that allows us to disengage.
This is hammered home when Cory Bernadi tweets the 'neo-masculinist' Dayrush 'Roosh' Valizadeh, who has published an article entitled 'Feminists are successfully creating a society of shameless sluts', and stated that women are 'simply [created] to reproduce'.
It's hammered home when Bernie Finn follows homophobia with Nazi jokes; again when arts funding is slashed. And of course, casting shadow over it all, is the blithe refusal of our major parties to recognise the humanity of refugees in Nauru and Manus Island.
Last year I was doing my VCE, so honestly, I was more aware of revolutionary Russia than about the #LibSpill. (Though I suppose it may come in handy if things really go south.) But now you could say I've got skin in the game. As a university student, as someone who wants to work in publishing, as a queer woman, this federal election made me someone who's invested.
So by the time the May deadline ticked over, I was one of the 71 per cent of 18-year-olds who had enrolled to vote. I sat in smug satisfaction until I realised, Oh, now it's time to do all the work.
Thus began my quest against stereotype. I would be a 'proactive citizen', whereby trying to keep up with this campaign is part wading against the tide of information and part not getting distracted by America's sideshow. (Trump. Really?)
"If Buzzfeed could tell that I'm a Miranda, then surely Vote Compass could tell me how I 'fit into the political landscape'."
I started simple. Google search: 'Australian Elections 2016'. The results? Mostly whatever embarrassing thing a politician said that day.
I tried a different tact. I went straight to the source: the official websites of each major party. To my surprise, although in interviews politicians are so opaque that it's more prophecy than policy, their websites