Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

General Discussion

pink

(532 posts)

12. I don't like to brag but.....

Reply to central scrutinizer (Reply #4)

Sat May 3, 2025, 05:45 PM

May 2025

Australia has always had compulsory voting. It is made easy to do by having our elections on a Saturday, with early voting from approximately 2 weeks before. It is usually a fun day on election day by having at most polling booths a barbecue going where voters can buy a democracy sausage with mostly friendly banter. We have a totally independent election referee who deals with discrepancies (Australian Electoral Commission). They also are the ones that draw up the boundaries.

I have volunteered on the polling booths for about 50 years and have enjoyed the experience immensely.

We are very proud of our system and hope it never changes.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

20 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Rastapopoulos IbogaProject timms139 Deuxcents HighFired49 Clouds Passing soldierant wyn borkins mwooldri ailsagirl brakester skideemon godsentme JT99 love_katz WyLoochka AloeVera Bev54 Number9Dream explorer4

35 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Great News [View all] pink May 2025 OP

This is great news SheltieLover May 2025 #1

seems like Canada and Australia learned from America's mistake Skittles May 2025 #2

Although Britain and France voted before we did BadgerMom May 2025 #9

Call me kooky canetoad May 2025 #27

Canetoad, I hear you. BadgerMom May 2025 #28

Better than the great victory here in Canada yliza May 2025 #18

Conservatives call for by-election in safe seat in Alberta for Poilievre rurallib May 2025 #3

I just commented on this above (post #18) yliza May 2025 #19

Australia requires voting, right? central scrutinizer May 2025 #4

I don't like to brag but..... pink May 2025 #12

Those are bragging rights! I'd love for a system like what you have. Deuxcents May 2025 #17

We still have some problems with donations pink May 2025 #25

YAY Australia! pnwest May 2025 #5

Seems like these other countries are smart enough senseandsensibility May 2025 #6

Nigel Farage's Reform Party wins Runcorn byelection by just six votes in blow to Labour Celerity May 2025 #33

Congrats! MLAA May 2025 #7

Very cool 😎. Congrats. n/t iluvtennis May 2025 #8

Most excellent! StarryNite May 2025 #10

Truth is, we voted against trump, too, but he told us that Elon stole it for him. BComplex May 2025 #11

Truth is.......for sure! Clouds Passing May 2025 #23

Congrats! Hold on tight. stillcool May 2025 #13

MAGA !!! IbogaProject May 2025 #14

And now Trump announces that he wants to be Pope... AntiFascist May 2025 #15

Everything the marmalade shartcannon touches turns to shit Brother Buzz May 2025 #16

That is Brilliant News! Cha May 2025 #20

Wonderful! ananda May 2025 #21

I'd love to be canetoad May 2025 #22

America now stands bravely as a warning to other democracies 0rganism May 2025 #24

Excellent! ShazzieB May 2025 #26

Wife and I voted in the Australian Federal election yesterday. Aussie105 May 2025 #29

as an American, i'm honestly blown away by societies that reject facism and people trying to use nonsense like "woke" Takket May 2025 #30

I wonder if Canada and Australia had the same percentage of non-voters as the USA Blue Owl May 2025 #31

voting is compulsory in Australia Celerity May 2025 #32

If only we cared about democracy as much. ECL213 May 2025 #34

K&R!!++!++ UTUSN May 2025 #35