Schools fear early voting will eat into democracy sausage fundraising

The humble snag has become a staple on election day. But will the rush on pre-polling undermine the efforts of cash-strapped schools to make a buck from their democracy sausages?

Schools are hoping the rush on pre-polling won’t hurt their democracy sausage fundraisers on Saturday’s election day.

Up until last Saturday, 2.2 million voters, nearly double the 1.2 million for the same time in 2016, had pre-polled via early voting centres.

There was no voting on Sunday but voting reopened on Monday and will continue until 6pm Friday.

There are nearly 16.5 million people enrolled to vote.

The Australian Electoral Commission said there were about 1 million postal votes.

The Democracy Sausage served in the traditional way with the onion on top, has become a must-have on election day.

Many schools hosting one of the 8000 polling booths see it as a good opportunity to raise money from outside their school community, and to showcase their schools to prospective families and supporters.

The offerings are becoming increasingly up-market with coffee vans, vego, gluten-free and halal options.

Federal Labor leader Bill Shorten turns sausages after voting at Moonee Ponds West Primary School during last year’s state election. Picture: AAP

Prime Minister Scott Morrison on New South Wales election day in March. Picture: AAP

The Democracy Sausage website, which collates the venues, says while the level of pre-polling has risen sharply since the website was launched in 2013 the number of sausage sizzles also had increased over that time.

“In terms of the impact on Democracy Sausage stalls, they seem to have grown in popularity alongside increased social media use. In fact, we’re having to recruit volunteers to help us manage the volume of posts coming through with #democracysausage for May 18 after experiences with the NSW election,” the website said.

A poll of 300 people on a Richmond3121 community Facebook page revealed that 62 per cent of respondents expected to vote before Saturday.

Trinity Catholic Primary School, in North Richmond, is offering sausages, vego options, cakes and coffee.

It is raising money towards bike racks and an extension of its edible garden which are part of a sustainability push at the school, encouraging students to use their bikes and scooters to get to school.

Bill Shorten tucking into a democracy snag at Essendon Primary School. Picture: Roman Kowalenko.

Fundraising secretary Christina Stone said while there seemed to be a lot of people pre-polling she was hopeful people would support the school’s fundraising effort.

“Everyone needs to vote so hopefully some people will come through on the day,” she said.

She said they would have vego sausage options and parents and friends were busy baking.

After disappointing voters by not serving sausages in the November state election, as all the energy and volunteer goodwill was expended in a bumper fete just weeks before, inner city Richmond Primary School is going all out.

It has a democracy barbecue, pulled beef rolls, egg and bacon rolls, cakes and coffee.

It is hoping to make some cash to put towards building works at the school.

A few schools contacted by the Herald Sun said the run on pre-polling was making guesstimates about catering tricky.

“We might end up with plenty of left overs and be running school sausage sizzles in weeks to come,” one school said.

Coburg Primary School, in the Wills electorate, is taking its stall up a notch. It is offering in queue ordering, vegan and gluten-free options and voters who turn up with a reusable cup will get 50 cents off their coffee.

Schools are hoping early voting won’t eat into their democracy snag fundraising. Picture: Alison Wynd

Moreland Primary School is also running an in queue ordering service to shorten the wait.

Williamstown North Primary School is complementing its barbecue with ScoMo scones, Bill shortbread, Jacqui lamingtons, Adam bundt cake and the “best coffee in town”.

“Help us to raise funds to improve our school grounds,” it says.

Brunswick South Primary School has a barbie and cake stall to raise money to put towards the school’s playground, buildings and facilities.

Mount Macedon Primary School is also raising money for playground equipment.

Beaumaris Secondary College is running a cake stall to put money towards a bike shed.

Hughesdale Primary School is promising voters they can have onion on top of their snags.

Cranbourne Secondary College is using its sausage sizzle to raise money for the breakfast club.

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Montmorency Primary School is raising money for its performing arts and STEM facilities.

In addition to the barbecue it will be selling plants and craft and offering face painting, glitter tattoos and a free craft table.

Sunshine Heights Primary School is urging people to bring their reusable cup along.

Gardenvale Primary School is raising money to install new water bubblers.

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