Australia's federal elections are characterized by compulsory voting, resulting in over 90% turnout and a preferential voting system that aims to minimize wasted votes. The cultural nuances include the 'democracy sausage' tradition, campaign vernacular with terms like 'rorts' and 'corflutes,' and emotive accusations among politicians during election times. These peculiar terms shape the electoral landscape, while the ongoing issue of election rorts continues to provoke voter dissatisfaction and debate, highlighting the ethical dimensions of political campaigning in Australia.
Voters hate rorts, and politicians love to accuse each other of rorting. Election rorts are when the parties distribute taxpayer dollars unfairly to boost their chances of winning votes.
Australians pride themselves on their distinctive federal elections. It's among a handful of nations that enforces compulsory voting, boasting a turnout rate of more than 90%.
The preferential voting system, in theory, means no votes are wasted and choice matters. In recent years, Australians even have an emblem for their civic duty â a democracy sausage.
From donkey voting to corflute stoushes and spruiking, here are some of the weird idioms you need to know to keep abreast of what's been happening in the lead-up to Saturday's federal election.
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