For most of Victorians the state election is well and truly over, but in one electorate east of Melbourne the vote is just getting underway.
The Victorian Electoral Commission declared the poll in Narracan "failed" just days out from election day last year, due to the death of a candidate.
It meant the district's voters still had to elect Upper House MPs in November, and are required to head back to the polls now to elect their Lower House representative.
A field of 11 candidates has nominated, two more than were on the ballot paper in November – and that's after Labor and the National Party decided not to field a candidate.
Polling day is January 28.
Liberal frontrunner
The electorate is the safest in the state for the Liberal Party, according to a VEC analysis of the 2018 election results against new electoral boundaries that came in at this election.
But Liberal candidate Wayne Farnham said he's not treating the result as a foregone conclusion.
"I've never taken it for granted from day one," he said.
"I've always said that was [retiring Liberal MP] Gary Blackwood's margin, it's not Wayne Farnham's margin."
He's not deterred at the prospect of being in opposition, if he's elected.
"Everyone that's running at the moment is going to be in opposition," he said.
"The difference with me is I have a team behind me. It's not just Wayne Farnham — I have all the shadow ministry plus a very strong leader.
"That's the point of difference between me and all the other candidates. Strength in numbers would be the best way to say it."
Holding the state government to account on its promise to build a new West Gippsland Hospital is a big priority for Mr Farnham.
He also cites other important electorate issues, including dealing with traffic congestion from population growth, flooding and drainage as well as improving the sewerage system at Walhalla.
Crowded field
The rest of the 11-strong field includes the Greens, minor parties and well-known independents.
And with Labor out of the contest, the 30 per cent or so of people who'd normally vote for them are looking elsewhere.
"On the first day, I was quite taken aback by how much interest myself and also the independents had from what I would assume would be usual Labor voters," Greens candidate Alyssa Weaver said.
Independent Tony Wolfe worked in coal-fired power generation for 40 years, but more recently had been an advocate for the transition to renewable energy.
"The people of Narracan deserve an independent voice," he said.
"We've been forgotten for so long, because it's been such a safe Liberal seat."
He said as well as making sure Labor builds the hospital, he wanted to see increased health services, including mental health support.
He also wants to see opportunities for the electorate in the transition to renewables and said tackling domestic violence and providing for the region's booming population are also important.
He said the Labor government would be more likely to work with him than a Liberal MP.
"We know the result of the election and the Liberals lost, they're going to be in opposition," he said.
Another well-known independent is local mayor Annemarie McCabe, who has been on council for two years.
"I've quickly learned that to get anything done around here, you need government backing or government support," she said.
"I consider us to be a safe Liberal seat. The Liberals have held this seat for 16 years now, they've been in opposition for 12 years.
"I've got nothing against the Liberal Party, but as long as it's a safe seat, I feel like we are being – not ignored totally – but we're certainly not getting the love and attention that we should be getting as a growing population
"I hear all the time 'Where's the infrastructure, where are the the services?' Well if you want these things, this has to be marginal seat."
Too many independents?
Senior lecturer in politics at Deakin University Dr Geoff Robinson said the number of candidates could bode well for the Liberal Party's chances.
"Usually for an independent to win, you really need there to be a rallying of support behind one independent candidate. I don't think that's going to be the case at this election," he said.
"That kind of fragmentation, I think actually favours the Liberal Party."
