Community Independent candidate Kate Dezarnaulds believes younger voters will be instrumental in deciding the outcome of Saturday’s vote in the federal electorate of Gilmore.

With a notional margin of a mere 0.1 per cent, the seat was already held by a slender margin by Labor incumbent Fiona Phillips and this time around, as well as renewing acquaintances with Liberal rival Andrew Constance, she is facing pressure to stave off Dezarnaulds.

Citing her camp’s internal polling, Dezarnaulds claims she has the strongest support among undecided voters and if she can convince enough of them to go the independent route, the Berry businesswoman could usurp Phillips after preferences are distributed.

“It’s pretty clear the country isn’t excited about either Dutton or Albanese - only one in three voters are backing them,” Dezarnaulds said.

“That makes this the perfect moment for an underdog Independent to break through - and that’s how we win.

“People are tired of the point-scoring and party politics. They want someone who listens, who shows up, and who puts the community first.”

Irrespective of the result on Saturday, Dezarnaulds said the Community Independent camp would stay around to contest the next state election at a number of South Coast seats.

“Independent for South Coast, the organisation that we established in December last year, will run independent candidates for state and federal elections from here on into the future,” she said.

“So the South Coast is just getting its first taste of a genuine community independent but it won't be the last.”

Dezarnaulds said Gilmore was a “genuine three-horse contest” despite the major parties claiming that she had little hope of getting the jump on them.

“I think the influence of young people on the outcomes of this selection are the real wild card in the system,” she told The Bugle.

“This will be the first election where there are more Gen Z and Millennials than there are Baby Boomers and Builders. And what that portion of our population votes on Saturday is really still to be seen.

“I don't think they have felt the power of demographic weight until after the election on Saturday but I hope that they know that there are positive alternatives willing to fight for a better future for our young people on the ballot for the first time in Gilmore.

“We know that they are more progressive and more willing to vote with independents than any other generation and I'm excited to see how that translates into results on Saturday.

“There's no doubt that we are an outside chance for this first tilt and if we are not successful on Saturday we will be back again for the next federal election.”