While it can be meaningful and satisfying to exercise your franchise on Election Day, the drudgery of standing in line at the polls is about as exciting as waiting at the DMV.
But it doesn't have to be this way.
Our Aussie friends have struck on something that should be replicated in every polling place in America — Democracy Sausage.
That's right. When you show up to cast your vote in Australia, you can purchase a delicious sausage sandwich. Private groups run the stands to raise funds for their various organizations and sometimes offer other treats, like cake.
No one’s sure who coined the term democracy sausage. But fundraising snacks have been served at Australia’s voting booths for close to a century, said Judith Brett, a professor of politics at Melbourne’s LaTrobe University and author of the book “From Secret Ballot to Democracy Sausage: How Australia Got Compulsory Voting.”
What began with polling place bake sales in the 1920s became election day sausage sizzles in the 1980s with the invention of the portable barbeque grill. The democracy sausage’s success is partly because of how Australia votes.
Elections always occur on Saturdays and are family affairs — voters arrive with their children and dogs. And turning up to vote is required by law, resulting in turnouts higher than 90% and ensuring a captive market for democracy sausage sales.
My AI assistant at Grok describes the gastronomic delicacies:
["Footy," I learned today, is Aussie slang for what they call football (soccer).]
State election laws vary in the United States, but among those with rules banning solicitation around polling places, most set a perimeter, outside of which Democracy Sausage could be grilled and sold—let's call ours Freedom Sausage. Think how much more festive voting could be with the addition of some artery-clogging treats!
In Australia, there's even a website to help voters find election day sausage stands. According to its crowd-sourced data, there are 2,700 voting locations with "sausage sizzles," and nearly half of all voters have "access" to the fare. In addition, the site tracks "cake stalls" (I need this in my life), vegetarian and halal options, and breakfast foods.
All this got me thinking: We could do this one better in the U.S. by adding the most American food of all—BACON.
I saw a post on Facebook yesterday about a restaurant that offers "walking bacon" to customers who purchase burgers. I have no idea if that's a real thing, but it should be. "I'll have a Freedom Sausage" with four slices of walking bacon—and throw in a slice of lemon cake."
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