It’s not exactly a global secret that America will very soon hold a presidential election. This quadrennial exercise in mass democracy, so fascinating to so many, differs in several particulars from Australia’s equivalent.

The brief, inclusive nature of Australian elections contrasts with two-year-long American campaigns, with billions spent and non-stop media coverage. Where Australian elections often produce strong foreign policy continuity, American ones highlight all the differences. Australians may not have a vote on November 3, but they do have a stake in the outcome.