The Sydney #electionWIRE team trooped over to Google HQ for the launch of the Google Federal Election 2010 site. The page includes an interactive election gadget to help users find out about their electorate – and where the polling booths closest to them are located.

It also houses an initiative called Student Voice 2010 which allows 15-18 year olds to participate in a mock election. The results of this election will be tallied the week before the federal election and mapped against the final election results.  The Greens have campaigned for optional voting for 16 and 17 year olds but neither Labor nor the Liberals have indicated any intention to lower the voting age. What do you think? Should younger Australians be able to vote?

The Google event brought together members of the #electionWIRE team, school students from Sydney and politicians. ALP Senator Kate Lundy and Liberal Member for Bradfield Paul Fletcher bickered about whether or not the National Broadband Network was a good idea or not – and the journalists present had a few questions on the matter too. You can read Senator Lundy’s speech here.

The audience also heard from Greens Senator Scott Ludlam who compared old style electioneering – the soporific leaders’ debate – to the new style campaigning which takes place online. He argued that politics is far too important to leave to the politicians – and we here at #electionWIRE couldn’t agree more. The campaign thus far mightn’t be interesting, but there real reasons to participate and liven things up.

And finally, Doug Orr of the Australian Electoral Commission was also on the panel and he stressed the need to give people enough information to participate fully in the elections. His stress on the importance of active citizenship for young people is something that resonates with the ethos of Vibewire and the #electionWIRE project.

Check out your electorate on the Google election page and tell us what the big issues are for you!