Because of the COVID-19 situation, the rules on early voting were relaxed to allow all voters to take up the opportunity to vote before the big day. In the past, early voting had to be justified by providing a special reason for not voting on the day itself.

Not any more. The numbers have been impressive. By the eve of the election, nearly three quarters of the votes had been cast.

On Friday, after 18 days of pre-polling, 165,546 people had voted - 54.7 per cent of the electorate - and when those early votes were combined with postal votes, that proportion rose to a notable 62.1 per cent of eligible voters.

There is a potential downside. Too much early voting might take the shine off the sense of occasion on the day itself.

There is something very special about the idea of a whole people going to voting places on the same day. They feel like they are participating together in a marvelous, unifying event.

It is a great feeling, one that we all remember with a lump in our throats.

But there is something to be said, too, for making voting as easy as possible.

Happily there seem few Australians who think voting is a chore, but enabling voters to vote at their convenience is to be applauded.

After the dust has settled on this election, we need to take stock and consider whether the gain of easing the process of voting is worth the loss of the sense of collective participation.

There is no right or wrong answer. It may be that the discussion is about the length of time in which early voting is allowed. Clearly, if the period is too long, the unifying nature of an election is diffused too much.

We must seek the happy medium.

Early voting has consequences for two groups: for fundraisers who use the sausage sizzle to raise money and for politicians.

Fundraising is all the harder if more people vote before the big day. That is a cost which may have to be borne.

And politicians will realise - probably already have realised - that if people vote early, they need to be got to and persuaded early. The dynamics of elections would change. The main parties' backroom people who schedule announcements will get to realise that early voting means early engagement with voters. It is a change - but change happens and people adapt.

However that debate develops, one thing shines out: the participation in a well-conducted, reasonably-argued election is a magnificent thing.

We should all be proud that we have done so.