In the digital age, when we all but run our lives with a combination of smart phones and the internet, it seems awkward that so little has changed when it comes to how we hold an election.

There has been a lot of debate about the feasibility of utilising online voting in some form and it's likely Australia will eventually move in that direction, but let's be honest there's a lot more about the electoral process that needs to be overhauled.

There has been so much commentary around the huge number of people who have pre-polled ahead of the May 18 election. Here in Wagga, that should come as no surprise because we saw unprecedented numbers of people vote before both the September byelection and the March general election.

We are long past the days when most people work during the week and maybe until noon on Saturdays. Juggling work, family and social commitments is now a 24-7 activity, so it's just going to be much easier for some people to pre-poll.

In days past, a great many more voting centres were open in smaller towns and even rural districts, but as the number of these is reduced, you cannot blame people for wanting to take advantage of a trip to town to vote as well as getting on with their other chores.

Campaigns are also increasingly expensive and exhausting for candidates. The never-ending news cycle means they rarely get a break and, as is the case in Riverina, many also have to cover huge distances to meet voters at the edges of the electorate.

Overhauling election processes will require a change in mindset for our politicians too. But perhaps, without a campaign ahead of a single "big day", there will be less opportunity to try to impress voters with goody bags full of sweeteners and a greater emphasis on just getting on with the job for a whole term.