Thousands of Canberrans may have to choose between a regular winter holiday and the traditional election-night party after Malcolm Turnbull's threat to the Senate to call a July 2 poll.
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And if history is a reliable guide, a decision to hold only the third winter federal election since World War II could discourage more than 100,000 people from voting at all.
July was the favourite month for Canberrans to travel overseas last year, with 11.5 per cent of all bookings, narrowly beating out September, Flight Centre figures show.
Those looking for somewhere closer to home were most likely to take a domestic trip in December, with July the equal-second most popular month for an escape.
Escaping Canberra's winter was an obvious motivation. But turnout figures at the two postwar winter polls suggest it's not just those in the nation's capital who are less excited about hanging around when the weather is colder.
The only July federal election in Australia's history was in 1987, with Bob Hawke calling the double-dissolution poll about six months earlier than expected to capitalise on disunity in the Liberal Party.
It did not lead to extra public enthusiasm, with the turnout of 93.84 per cent of eligible voters the lowest since 1928. The turnout was 1 percentage point or more down on almost all votes within decades either side of it.
The modern low-water mark was not trumped until the August 2010 battle between Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott, when only 93.21 per cent of eligible voters could be bothered showing up or pre-polling.
With 12.91 million registered voters in 2013, a further drop in turnout of just one point this year would equate to about 130,000 extra voters not having their say.
Flight Centre figures show the average time between booking and travel is 83 days for Canberrans, suggesting most holidaymakers have time to avoid travelling in July if they want. But those who do escape overseas in July will have several options to vote if the federal election is held then. Those who are enrolled could attend overseas voting centres that are established at Australian embassies, consulates and high commissions before each federal election.
Early voting centres at some Australian airports would also be set up before election day. Anyone else could apply online for a postal vote immediately after an election is announced.
And if you can't draw yourself away from Wimbledon, a Spanish beach or a Greek Island to vote at all? The Australian Electoral Commission website says: "If you explain you were overseas on election day, you will not be fined."
Election months since World War II
March: 1983, 1990, 1993, 1996
April: 1951
May: 1954, 1974
July: 1987
August: 2010
September: 1946, 2013
October: 1969, 1980, 1998, 2004
November: 1958, 1963, 1966, 2001, 2007
December: 1949, 1955, 1961, 1972, 1975, 1977, 1984
