Nearly 1 in 4 Bradfield voters planning to change the way they vote this election

A growing number of voters in the federal electorate of Bradfield are rethinking their political preferences ahead of the 2025 election, with independent candidates and minor parties poised to benefit from the shift.

Polling by DemosAU reveals that 23 percent of Bradfield voters say they will vote differently this election compared to 2022. Even more strikingly, 58 percent say they would consider voting for an independent candidate rather than a representative from a major party.

Independent Nicolette Boele ran in Bradfield in 2022 and gained significant traction, earning 45.77 percent of the two-candidate preferred vote against then-Liberal MP Paul Fletcher. While Fletcher retained the seat with 54.23 percent, the result showed a notable appetite for a political alternative in what has traditionally been a safe Liberal seat.

Fletcher has since stepped aside, and the Liberal Party has endorsed Gisele Kaptarian as its new candidate - setting the stage for a fresh contest in 2025. Boele is back and aiming to build on her previous result.

These local numbers reflect a broader national trend. In 2022, nearly one-third of Australians voted for a minor party or independent - the highest proportion in almost a century. With continued discontent over cost of living pressures and growing frustration at political gridlock, that trend looks set to continue.

DemosAU polled 2,000 Australians about their voting intentions, beliefs, and everyday concerns in the lead-up to the federal election on May 3.

Watch the video below for more insights.