The History of the Democracy Sausage: How a Simple Snack Became an Election Day Icon

The history of the democracy sausage represents a uniquely Australian blend of civic duty and community celebration. Although the tradition dates back decades, the term was coined relatively recently around 2010, before being crowned the Australian National Dictionary Centre’s word of the year in 2016. With compulsory voting established in 1924, Australians transformed what could have been a mundane obligation into a festive Saturday occasion.

These sausage sizzles have become inseparable from the Australian voting experience, with nearly one-third of polling stations hosting a sausage stand during the 2016 election. Interestingly, the first documented use of “democracy sausage” on social media appeared during the 2013 Western Australian state election, gradually evolving into such a significant cultural phenomenon that Twitter changed its #ausvotes emoji from a ballot box to a sausage on bread. Today, the democracy sausage Australia tradition has expanded beyond the basic offering to include vegan, vegetarian and gourmet options, while websites like democracysausage.org help voters locate the nearest sizzle, cementing this delicious democratic tradition as a beloved national institution.

Election Day in Australia

Unlike many nations that schedule weekday elections, Australia conducts its federal elections exclusively on Saturdays. This weekend’s voting tradition creates a distinctly relaxed atmosphere at polling stations nationwide. Since introducing compulsory voting in 1924, Australian elections have maintained consistently high participation rates, with turnout typically exceeding 90% of enrolled voters.

Saturday voting and high turnout

The Saturday election schedule has proven highly effective for voter participation. Throughout most of the compulsory voting era, Australia has achieved remarkable turnout figures, often above 95%. Since 1925, when compulsory voting began, the percentage of enrolled voters casting ballots has rarely dropped below 90%. Even in recent elections where slight declines occurred, the 2022 federal election still saw 89.82% turnout for the House of Representatives.

This high participation stands in stark contrast to countries with voluntary voting systems. The consistent Saturday scheduling makes voting accessible for most working Australians, removing a significant barrier to participation. Furthermore, combining weekend voting with the compulsory involvement has created a unique civic culture where election day becomes a community event rather than merely a democratic obligation.

Polling places as community hubs

Australian polling places transform ordinary venues into vibrant community gathering spots. On election day, local schools, churches, community halls and public buildings across the nation open their doors as voting centres. These familiar locations become temporary democratic hubs where neighbours meet and interact.

What truly distinguishes Australian elections is the peaceful, community-oriented atmosphere surrounding the voting process. Polling places generally operate as civil venues where individuals interact respectfully with one another. The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) employs approximately 100,000 temporary staff nationwide for each federal election—ordinary community members facilitating this democratic process.

Notably, polling stations do more than serve their official democratic purpose—they evolve into fundraising opportunities for local organisations. Community groups, including Lions clubs, Rotary chapters, school Parent and Citizen committees, and local sports clubs, frequently establish cake stalls or sausage sizzles outside polling places. This fundraising element has laid the foundation for what eventually became known as the “democracy sausage” tradition that has grown increasingly prominent in the history of Australian elections.

Consequently, election day in Australia represents not just a democratic exercise but a genuine community occasion that brings together citizens across political divides in a shared cultural experience.

From cake stalls to sausage sizzles

Community fundraising at Australian polling stations dates back nearly a century, with evidence of cake and jam stalls appearing as early as the 1920s. These beginnings laid the foundation for what would eventually become one of Australia’s most beloved electoral traditions.

The evolution of election day food

Initially, election day fundraising focused primarily on homemade treats. A photograph from 1928 shows women serving cake and refreshments at the Atherton Courthouse in Queensland, presumably to raise funds for their community. Throughout the 1930s, these stalls expanded to offer homemade condiments, cakes and handicrafts. For decades, these bake sales remained the standard fare at polling places, serving as fundraising opportunities and as pleasant distractions for voters completing their civic duty.

Portable BBQS and the 1980s Shift

The invention of portable gas grills in the 1980s allowed for a dramatic shift in the history of the democracy sausage. This technological advancement fundamentally changed election day catering. As Professor Judith Brett, author of “From Secret Ballot to Democracy Sausage: How Australia Got Compulsory Voting,” explains, “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.” This innovation allowed the sausage to “roam out of the backyard” and into public spaces, creating new opportunities for community fundraising.

How sausage sizzles became the norm?

Following the portable BBQ revolution, sausage sizzles quickly became election day fixtures. School P&Cs, churches, and local sporting clubs recognised polling days as perfect fundraising opportunities. These events require significant planning—permits must be secured, food prepared, and volunteers rostered. The offerings have continued to evolve beyond the basic sausage on bread to include vegetarian options, gourmet varieties, and even international flavours. By 2010, the sausage sizzle had become so integral to the voting experience that Australians began referring to it as the “democracy sausage,” a term that would later be crowned Australian National Dictionary Centre’s word of the year in 2016.

The Democracy Sausage

Social media platforms transformed the humble election day sausage sizzle into a national phenomenon during the 2010s. What began as a local tradition soon became an internet sensation, eventually earning recognition as Australia’s word of the year.

The role of social media and hashtags

The term “democracy sausage” first appeared on social media during the 2013 Western Australian state election. However, its popularity exploded in 2016 when Twitter changed its #ausvotes emoji from a ballot box to a sausage on bread. On election days, #DemocracySausage consistently trends at #1 nationally, with one election seeing over 48,000 tweets in just 13 hours. The hashtag became so iconic that MasterFoods rebranded its tomato sauce as “Democracy Sauce” for an election campaign.

Snagvotes and democracysausage.org

2013 Alex Dawson and friends created the first democracy sausage tracking website before the Western Australian state election. Initially, they manually combed through social media posts about sausage sizzles and placed pins on Google Maps. The concept quickly evolved into democracysausage.org, a collaborative platform where voters submit sizzle locations. This service proved remarkably popular – the website received 2.5 million unique visitors before the 2022 election, representing approximately one-fifth of all voters. Before elections, major supermarket chains now contact site administrators to prepare adequate sausage supplies for community fundraisers.

Political leaders and sausage gaffes

Even politicians cannot escape the democracy sausage tradition – though some have committed unforgivable culinary blunders. Former Labour leader Bill Shorten created the most infamous sausage sizzle controversy during the 2016 election by biting into his democracy sausage from the middle rather than from the end. This faux pas generated immediate backlash on social media, with one Twitter user declaring it “the lowest moment we have ever seen in politics.” Meanwhile, Malcolm Turnbull faced criticism for reportedly declining a sausage offered by a volunteer during a 2017 visit to flood-affected Lismore, suggesting that even refusing a democracy sausage can constitute a political misstep in modern Australia.

Why the democracy sausage matters?

Beyond its tasty appeal, the democracy sausage has emerged as a powerful cultural symbol that reflects Australia’s distinctive approach to democratic participation. What began as a simple fundraising opportunity has become a cherished tradition embodying Australian values.

A symbol of civic pride

The democracy sausage represents far more than just a snack—it has become a source of national pride. In 2016, the Australian National Dictionary Centre selected “democracy sausage” as its Australian Word of the Year, cementing its place in the cultural lexicon. This recognition underscores how deeply the tradition has become interwoven with Australian identity. For many Australians, the sausage sizzle transforms the serious act of voting into a celebratory occasion, making it “a jokey accompaniment to the serious act of choosing the government”.

Bringing people together beyond politics

In an era of increasing political polarisation, the democracy sausage serves as a rare unifying force. One observer notes, “The one thing that brings everyone together is the democracy sausage”. These community-run stalls generate significant funds for local organisations—during the 2022 election, groups running the stalls made approximately AUD 6.27 million in profits. Nevertheless, the sausage sizzle’s value extends beyond fundraising; it creates a festival-like atmosphere where voters from across the political spectrum can interact without tension.

A light-hearted tradition with deep roots

Despite its seemingly frivolous nature, the democracy sausage carries more profound cultural significance. Professor Judith Brett, author of “From Secret Ballot to Democracy Sausage,” explains that these election day sausage sizzles have fundamentally “been a way of connecting a younger generation, a social media generation, into the civic rituals of election day”. As one commentator aptly observed, “The sausage sizzle fosters social capital and forges community bonds”. Indeed, the tradition creates an inclusive, welcoming environment that makes the voting experience less intimidating for citizens of all backgrounds.

The democracy sausage demonstrates how Australians have transformed a civic obligation into a community celebration, making the electoral process more accessible, enjoyable, and distinctly Australian.

Conclusion – History of the Democracy Sausage

Throughout Australia’s electoral history, the democracy sausage has undoubtedly evolved from a simple fundraising tool into a beloved national institution. This uniquely Australian tradition represents far more than just a snack consumed after voting; consequently, it embodies the country’s distinctive approach to democratic participation—transforming a civic duty into a community celebration.

Almost a century after the first polling place cake stalls appeared, election-day barbecues have flourished into a defining feature of Australian democracy. Although the tradition began modestly, social media platforms have subsequently elevated the democracy sausage to iconic status, with tracking websites guiding voters to the nearest sizzle. Meanwhile, politicians navigate this cultural landscape carefully, aware that sausage-related gaffes might generate more public reaction than actual policy announcements.

The significance of this tradition extends well beyond its culinary appeal. Democracy sausages create shared experiences that bridge political divides during potentially contentious elections. Essentially, they serve as a gentle reminder that, regardless of political differences, Australians value community connections and maintain a certain irreverence toward formal institutions. This blending of serious democratic participation with light-hearted community engagement remains deeply characteristic of Australian culture.

Therefore, the democracy sausage is evidence of Australia’s successful transformation of mandatory voting into a festive occasion—a remarkable achievement that few other nations with compulsory systems have managed. From humble cake stalls to nationwide sausage sizzles tracked by dedicated websites, this tradition thrives because it authentically reflects core Australian values: community spirit, fundraising for local causes, and making civic duties more accessible through shared experiences.