It takes an army to make democracy work. It’s time more of us enlisted

The election is done and dusted. Some people are delighted with the result, some relieved and some disappointed, as happens every cycle. But our system has worked and all of us should be happy that our democracy seems to be in good shape.

The same is no longer true in many other countries. Indeed, we are starting to be talked about as a global outlier; a rare Western democracy that is not fighting off looming threats from populist right-wing parties. If watching what happens when one of those populists manages to win has taught us anything, it is that democracy is fragile.

The sausage sizzle at Saint George’s Church voting centre in Paddington, NSW.Credit: Kate Geraghty

Perhaps that is why I see the increasing energy around our elections as largely a good thing. And perhaps as others have worked that out, too, that’s why there is so much more buzz – both positive and negative – around them.

It seems we can no longer afford to think that compulsory voting and an independent Australian Electoral Commission – important as they are – are protection enough, and that all we need to do every three years is turn up and vote. All those people in T-shirts promoting their chosen candidate, who were knocking on doors, handing out flyers, putting up corflutes and waving posters in long emu parades beside busy roads, have recognised that a functioning democracy takes work and must be protected. It takes time, energy, sunscreen and boot leather.

I know getting flyers shoved under your nose outside your favourite cafe on a Saturday morning can be annoying, especially if they tout the candidate you don’t support. But curb your irritation. The person doing the thrusting is doing their bit for democracy. By all means refuse their flyer, but do so politely. The volunteer is giving their time to support something they believe in: the essence of democracy.

Polling day itself can feel like a frenzy. First, you need to find a park near a polling booth. Then, you must “walk the gauntlet”, as volunteers for each candidate wave their how-to-vote cards at you. It can feel overwhelming.

I doubt my efforts changed a single vote, but it didn’t matter. I made an effort, and that’s the point.

I know because I have been on both sides. The first time I handed out how-to-votes was in 1972, when I was 16 and volunteered for the ALP to try to get Gough Whitlam elected. If memory serves, it was pouring with rain and I was standing outside our local public school, soaked.

Despite the ALP posters declaring “It’s Time”, mine was a blue-ribbon conservative electorate and my somewhat soggy flyers were rejected more often than not. Mostly people were polite, but a few were nasty and intimidating. Perhaps this occurs more often with people who are worried their candidate is going to lose.

After my shift ended, I came home feeling as bedraggled as I looked. That night, however, when I watched the election coverage and Whitlam won comfortably, I felt as if I owned a tiny bit of that result. I doubt my efforts changed a single vote, but it didn’t matter, and it still doesn’t. I made an effort, and that’s the point.

After that, I stopped volunteering for elections for many years. Mostly because I got busy and was far too cool to wear a daggy T-shirt and accost strangers. It wasn’t until I ran for the Senate myself – in 2022 for the Reason Party in NSW – that I once again realised the enormous value and contribution of those prepared to roll up their sleeves and do the boring work required to support our democratic process.

In 2025, I was not a candidate, but I volunteered for one. I did not do much: an afternoon door-knocking, handing out some flyers, a corflute on the fence, and some donations. Many of my fellow volunteers did much more. But I am glad I participated in a small way. Win or lose, I would do it again.

I would encourage everyone with the time and energy (the number of volunteers who are older members of the community is quite compelling) to step up for the candidate of their choice. Democracy cannot be something people take for granted or, worse, feel is useless or foisted upon them. Democracy thrives when people get involved and recognise that if we want to keep our government – of whatever stripe – by the people and for the people, then the people need to get involved.

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