Democracy sausage facts for kids
The "democracy sausage" is a special treat in Australia! It's a sausage wrapped in a slice of bread, often with sauce. You can buy them at places where people vote on election day. These sausage sizzles are usually set up as a way to raise money for schools, community halls, or churches that host the voting booths.
In 2016, a news report said that almost one-third of all voting places in Australia had a sausage stand. This shows how popular they are! A historian named Judith Brett said that community groups have used these events to raise money since the 1930s. Sausages started appearing in the early 1980s when portable barbecue grills became easier to find.
The democracy sausage is so famous in Australia that in 2016, Twitter even changed its election emoji to a sausage on bread! Also, the Australian National Dictionary Centre chose "democracy sausage" as its Australian Word of the Year for 2016.
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Why Are Democracy Sausages So Popular?
Australians always vote on a Saturday. Also, voting is required by law for everyone over 18. This means lots of people come out to vote for both state and national elections.
Fundraising for Communities
Many voting places are located at schools, community halls, or churches. These groups often use the large number of voters as a chance to raise money. They set up stalls selling food and drinks. For many community groups, this is one of their biggest fundraising events of the year!
What Else Can You Buy?
Sausages on bread are not the only things sold at these election day stalls. Voters can also buy cakes, drinks, and other food. Sometimes, you can find vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free options too.
Finding Your Favorite Election Day Food
People love these stalls so much that websites and social media pages have been created to help voters. These sites show which voting booths have food stalls and what they will be selling. This way, people can choose where to vote based on their food preferences! For example, during the 2016 federal election, one website listed over 2,300 polling booths with sausages or cakes.
Fun Themed Sweets
Some cake stalls even sell sweets with funny names that play on politicians' names. For example, you might find "Alba-Cheesy Cakes" (for Anthony Albanese) or "Malcolm Turnovers" (for Malcolm Turnbull). There are also "Jacqui Lambingtons" (for Jacqui Lambie) and "Tanya Plibiscuits" (for Tanya Plibersek).
A Little Bit of History
In 1989, a politician named Peter Dowding was the leader of Western Australia. He had to explain why his political party was giving away free sausages and drinks before an election. People wondered if this was allowed. The police even looked into it. Later, Dowding joked that the opposing party's leader was also seen with a barbecue hat, showing he was "involved in the spreading of sausages." This shows how much a simple sausage sizzle can become part of election stories!
