I wonder if we will see a large proportion of ballots “below the line”? More voters who want to select their own preference flow?
Usually major parties don’t promote their Senate Stable by the personalities standing.
They rely on the donkey vote along party lines, usually above the line.
This is so even though it is their third and fourth tier stall holders who are the ones competing with the independents who are often well known or well promoted.
For the first time since Federation we are seeing a stand alone Federal Senate Election in which the last seat or two, the last stall in the major parties stables, are actually being trotted out to compete with the independents.
I think it will, I hope it will, see a change in the way that people vote. It is still possible that people will go more strongly for the major parties, for the perceived stability that might bring.
It could go either way.