Mr Taber says he rejected the “offer” based on the fact that independents should be just that – not aligned with any particular political party or person – where voters should be able to make up their own mind who they support, and in what order, on the ballot paper.

But it is one thing that voters need to keep in the back of their mind when casting their vote on polling day.

Just who receives second, third, and even fourth, preferences, because it can be the difference in a seat like New England.

Another interesting fact to come out of figures from the Australia Eelectoral Commission is the informal factor. 

That is the “donkey” vote, by intention or not.

In 2010, 3347 people either intentionally, or not, gave away their right to decide who should represent them in parliament by submitting an informal vote.

That’s around 3.54 per cent of the total voting population in New England at the time.

In 2013, that figure nearly doubled to 5881 – or 6.05 per cent of the voting public.

The question to ask ourselves here is – was it deliberate? 

Sure, no doubt there’s a percentage who got it wrong unintentionally – but it’s hard to believe that the figure could double from one federal election to the next. 

Is it a case of people being fed up with the process, or fed up with the candidates – or just plain fed up with politics?

Two weeks into the campaign it’s hard to judge – but wait there’s more!

 In fact, another month or so on the campaign trail. 

Will the informal vote go up, again?