The lack of support in preference deals means that if the National Party is to win the seat of Indi, it will have to without any help and significantly increase its number of first preference votes from the 17.22 per cent in the 2016 election.

Derryn Hinch's Justice Party candidate Jason Whaley has Mr Martin at number two on his how to vote card, followed by independent Helen Haines at three, then Mr Byatt at four.

The United Australia Party card, seen by The Border Mail before it was deleted from the Facebook page, also had Mr Martin ahead of Mr Byatt.

Labor has preferenced the Greens' Helen Robinson at number two and Dr Haines at number three, as flagged by candidate Eric Kerr last week, which gives the independent a significant boost if the contest again comes down to the orange candidate against the Coalition.

Both Mr Kerr and Mr Whaley had the United Australia Party in last place on their how to vote cards, while the Coalition candidates had UAP at number three as part of a wider federal preference deal.

Mr Martin and Mr Byatt's how to vote cards both had the Greens last and Labor second-last.

Volunteers in their coloured political T-shirts gathered outside the Wangaratta early voting centre on Murphy Street on Monday as pre-polling began in the election - the how to vote cards are just a suggestion for the voters heading inside to fill out the ballots.

A big line formed down the street from 8.30am, when the centre was scheduled to open, until 9.30am when the first votes were actually allowed to be cast.

Candidates also joined the volunteers to talk to voters on their way inside.

"I'm surprised on day one how busy it is, but people are keen to vote," Dr Haines said.

"People are in high spirits, people are excited to be voting.

"I think the mood is really optimistic and everyone on the hustings is really being respectful and having great conversations with the voters."

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