UNDER the shadow of a global pandemic, Queenslanders went to the polls to elect both local and state leaders in 2020.
At the height of the public health crisis, local government elections were held on March 28, with mayors and councillors elected for Queensland's 77 councils.
Much of the state was in lockdown and voters were demanding their safety be assured, forcing the Electoral Commission of Queensland to introduce a suite of new measures to ensure residents could exercise their democratic right.
Pre-polling booth hours were extended, phone polling was made available, record numbers of people applied for postal votes, while handing out how to vote cards was banned.
These were trends that were to set the scene for the big game - the October 31 state election.
Queenslanders were querying who to trust, and in times of crisis, the gut reaction as shown in the results was 'better the devil you know.'
The local government elections across the state turned up unsurprising results, with most councils maintaining the status quo.
Fifteen rural mayors from across Queensland were elected unopposed as they were the only ones to nominate for their respective councils, including former LNP Leader Lawrence Springborg who made his political comeback as mayor of Goondiwindi Regional Council.
A shake-up was to come in November, when long-serving Rockhampton Mayor Margaret Strelow stood down from her position.
Recent changes to the Electoral Act meant the runner up and only other contender for the position, activist Chris 'Pineapple' Hooper would have been parachuted into the role despite receiving just 30 per cent of the vote.
The state government rushed to amend the law that would have seen runner-up mayors and councillors take the top job if the elected member stood down within 12 months of an election, and a by-election to appoint both Rockhampton mayor, and Townsville's Division 10 councillor made vacant after Les Walker was elected to the state seat of Mundingburra, will be held on January 23.
The stakes were higher at the state election, as a record number of people from a record number of political parties nominated to represent their communities across the 93 Queensland seats.
Minor party candidates blew out with 342 running, while 69 ran as independents. Labor, the LNP and the Greens ran candidates in every seat, with Pauline Hanson's One Nation running in 90.
University of Queensland political analyst Chris Salisbury said while the sheer number of candidates could easily have led to a hung parliament, the unusual circumstances leading up to the election favoured the major parties.
Voters rushed to polling booths early, or applied for postal votes, which meant candidates had to be strategic in getting their messages out there, rather than doing the big push in the fortnight leading up to the election.
By the time October 31 rolled around, only one third of Queensland's 3.3 million voters were yet to fill out their ballot.
More than 1,210,000 votes had been cast at early voting centres ahead of the election, while another 900,000 postal votes had been issued.
"Parties had to be smarter in when and who delivered their messaging and delivered pitches to electorates," Dr Salisbury said.
"In an election when we had a record number of both parties and candidates, there were some quite spectacular failures of a couple of minor parties that failed to attract much, if any of the vote.
"Those conditions afforded an uneven playing field, and conditions favoured the major parties, both major parties had a positive swing in that election which is not something often seen.
"The coronavirus really did upend the dynamics of politics and the lead up to the election when we really might have expected a closer race and potential LNP victory.
"As it turned out, the voters were sticking with what they knew and leaning particularly toward the government."
The results quickly became clear on the Saturday night - Labor and Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk was returning for an historic third term.
The ALP won 52 seats, the LNP 34, Katter's Australian Party retained its three North Queensland seats, while the Queensland Greens won an additional seat with the spectacular undoing of former Deputy Premier Jackie Trad, in her seat of South Brisbane. One Nation retained Mirani and Independent Sandy Bolton kept Noosa.
Dr Salisbury said Labor had secured two never-before held seats of Caloundra and Nicklin, and credited Ms Palaszczuk's visibility during the campaign.
"Placing the Premier front and centre as the figurehead of the campaign helped them get over the line.
"While boring and humdrum, she was quite consistent in her messaging."
Broadbeach MP and former Newman government minister David Crisafulli was trusted with the top job, with Toowoomba MP David Janetzki appointed deputy.
Dr Salisbury said both parties would have their work cut out for them in the next four years.
"Presumably a reset is coming up as conditions get somewhat back to normal, but it will really test the resolve of government to do what's required to stave off the pretty long after-effects of the initial impact of COVID."
And if constituents weren't already weary, Toowoomba residents were sent back to the ballot box to vote in a new MP for the federal seat of Groom, after John McVeigh resigned in September, triggering a November 28 by-election.
The safe Liberal seat was claimed by mining engineer Garth Hamilton, who said growing the local economy and building infrastructure, including the inland rail was his priority.
