It’s become an integral part of every election, big or small, and for some among us, it’s the best part of the whole voting process. The democracy sausage is uniquely Australian, and its beauty lies in its simplicity – a humble snag (meat or vego) on bread (or a roll), with sauce (and maybe onions). So important has the democracy sausage become to everyday voting Australians that turning up to a polling booth and finding no sausages sizzling feels tantamount to tyranny. So how are you to avoid such gut-churning disappointment this coming federal election? Luckily, there’s a website that can help. 

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Credit: Getty Images / Simon McGill

Where to get a democracy sausage

DemocracySausage.org all started out as a bit of a laugh for Perth-based creator Alex Dawson and his mates, who began gathering info on sausage sizzles at polling booths to share on social media. But what began as a bit of fun has exploded into a nationwide website that last year saw more than 2.5 million people log on to snag their nearest sanga. In a media statement from April 28, the site creators said they had more than 1200 sausage sizzles and cake stalls listed for this election, and are encouraging anyone with information about a fundraiser that’s not yet on the map to get in touch, either via the website or on social media. 

Electoral Sausage Integrity Commissioner and DemocracySausage.org co-creator Helen Ensikat has confirmed that that preparations for election day are heating up: 

“In spite of high pre-polling, we’re still seeing tremendous numbers of sausage sizzles and cake stalls planned across the country,” she says. “We’ve even heard from 10 Australian overseas polling places that are hosting election barbecues. 

“Remember that even if you’ve already voted, there’s nothing to stop you dropping by your local school or community hall on the weekend to support their fundraiser. You can only vote once but you can buy as many democracy sausages as you want!” 

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Credit: Supplied

What is the democracy sausage?

The democracy sausage is simply a sausage sandwich, served on an election day. Sausage sizzles are commonly found at polling places all across Australia during elections, along with cake stalls and raffles. It’s called a ‘democracy sausage’ because you eat it while participating in the most important part of a democracy – casting your vote.  

According to the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House, the term ‘democracy sausage’ was first coined in 2010 by a website called ‘Snag Votes’ that was listing sausage sizzles at polling booths in Brisbane. The term became officially recognised in 2016, when the Australian National Dictionary Centre selected ‘democracy sausage’ as the word of the year.

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Is the democracy sausage free?

Some voters who have only newly arrived in Australia may be operating under the false belief that democracy sausages are free. Totally understandable, given the name and everything. But while you do have to pay for your slice of democracy, most democracy sausage sizzles are fundraisers for worthy causes – such as schools or kids’ sports clubs. 

No matter your preferred candidate, the democracy sausage is the one thing that unites as all as Aussies. So be sure to turn out on Saturday, submit your thoughtful and considered vote, then buy yourself a democracy sausage afterwards, to celebrate democracy, sausages and everything else that you love about being Australian. 

You can find your nearest democracy sausage at DemocracySausage.org

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