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Female Voters Aren't 'Undecided', They're Considering The Debate

Twitter election poll shows women less decided but more engaged.
Female voters are considering all of the options before voting.
Ezra Bailey
Female voters are considering all of the options before voting.

If Twitter is anything to go by, most Australians don't know who they'll vote for come July 2 and women are especially undecided.

A Galaxy poll of 1500 people found 56 percent of Twitter users didn't know which way they'd vote in the Federal Election including 63 percent of women.

It's not that women are being less decisive, they're engaging deeper in the debate and actively considering what's being said.

Yet that word 'undecided' rubs Twitter media partnerships director Jonathan Harley the wrong way.

"I know we talk about women being undecided -- that's the language used in polling and the political space -- but what this tells us is women voters are not undecided, they're considering the debate," Harley told The Huffington Post Australia.

"They're considering the policies and considering the things pollies and parties are saying that affect their lives.

"It's not that women are being less decisive, they're engaging deeper in the debate and actively considering what's being said."

Millennials have, very sensibly, ignored the election debate up until now. and are gearing up to get informed.
Radharc Images / Alamy
Millennials have, very sensibly, ignored the election debate up until now. and are gearing up to get informed.

As for younger voters, the research also showed 6 in 10 Twitter users were Millennials and they were nearly ready to start caring about the federal election.

"The results show 73 percent of Millennials are more likely to become more interested in politics in the immediate run up to election," Harley said.

"It's been a marathon campaign but they're tuning in right now. They're heading to Twitter to get the latest and tie it all up in a bow.

"The polls say it's going to be close, and they're deciding now."

Harley said there was one thing Millennials wanted from politicians -- a bit of passion.

Consider that 38 percent of Millennials said they will pay attention when a pollie argues passionately about something –- they want conviction, authenticity and a compelling conversation with a pollie," Harley said.

"What we're seeing with Millennials is the generation shift in political discourse.

"Believability is key and that's why #auspol is the number one hashtag in Australia three years running, because there's a sense you can have an immediate conversation with a pollie about the debate.

"It allows Millennials to do an authenticity test".

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