This is particularly so given they may have contributed to the significant discrepancy between the final opinion polls and the eventual result.

Most pundits, taking their lead from polls published on the morning of the election, were still expecting a narrow victory for the ALP on Saturday.

There had been a late swing of 0.5 per cent in Labor's favour following the death of party legend, Bob Hawke.

These predictions were shattered just over 12 hours later when it became apparent the trend was not Labor's friend.

The national vote was running at almost the exact opposite of what the polls had been predicting. The Coalition was comfortably ahead before the night was out.

One possible reason the bounce did not flow through could be because so many people had already voted.

In the ACT many pre-poll voters would not necessarily have been across the Coalition's last minute announcement it would cut local public service jobs to fund its own programs.

There is an argument, as former deputy prime minister Tim Fischer said last week, to wait until all the information is in before making up your mind.

While Mr Fischer's claims that pre-poll voting is damaging democracy would not be shared by all, he is right when he says it has affected the way in which the process plays out.

His concerns include the fact it is hard for independents and minor parties to man pre-polling booths for the full four week pre-polling period and that their pre-polling commitments tie candidates to where voting is taking place.

"There's less time for candidates to get right out in the smaller country towns," he said.

Mr Fischer said while there was a case to be made for pre-poll voting in isolated and outback areas, where it may take hours to drive to a polling booth, it was a luxury in most urban areas where the majority of people were only a short distance from a polling station.

The counter argument is, of course, that society has changed a lot since Federation and our weekends are no longer sacred.

For many, Saturday is just another day of work. Even those who do get it off are often juggling shopping, household chores, children's sporting commitments and a host of other demands.

It can actually be the busiest day of the week.

The issue is further complicated by the nostalgic view of election day as an Australian democratic tradition in which the rich rub shoulders with the aspirational and the not-so-affluent to celebrate our compulsory participatory democracy.

We have the democracy sausage, school fundraisers and a shared communal experience that literally brings people together.

The generally good relations between most political party volunteers on the day is a far cry from what we sometimes see overseas.

Yes, four weeks was probably too long but that doesn't mean we should walk away from pre-polling altogether.

The AEC, to its credit, has said it does plan to review the issue in view of its growing popularity with voters.

That review should be given a high priority with the emphasis on coming up with an arrangement that delivers flexibility while protecting our democratic traditions.