Where to vote: Overheard at polling booths on election day

It’s the buzzword we’ve all heard enough of, but according to one voter, the inflation price attack has hit the humble polling booth sausage sizzle.

Election day is finally here and Australians across the country are hitting their local polling booths in droves to cast their ballots.

While people are casting their preferences – be it for their Member of Parliament, Senate representative, or pick of the sausage sizzle or cake stall – we’ve got the best titbits overheard at schools, town halls, churches, community halls and public spaces across the country.

If you’ve heard some cracking one-liners or bizarre comments tweet us @newscomauHQ or send us a message on Facebook. Additionally, if you’ve yet to vote, you can find your nearest polling booth in our interactive guide here.

– Overheard in the line at Rozelle Public School in Anthony Albanese’s electorate of Grayndler: “‘With the way inflation’s going it might be $6 by the time we get to the front’. This was in regards to a democracy sausage sizzle being $5 a snag, mad prices for a slice of democracy if you ask me.”

– Sign of the times: “Do they have tap for the sausage sizzle?”

– The struggle of being a Kiwi in Australia on election day: The conversation I have everytime I go near a polling booth and get asked to vote, I tell them: ‘No thank you,’ followed by: ‘I can’t legally vote, I’m from New Zealand’. They then say: ‘Oh wow, why are you over in Australia when you have an amazing woman in power?’” - Amy.

– Introducing a short series we’d like to call “Only in Bondi”: A beachside polling booth saw not just one but two punters (at least) who turned up in budgie smugglers. Sydney’s rainy weather and 17C temperatures be damned.

When in Bondi... Picture: Steven Saphore/ AFP

– Unsolicited feedback: “At my polling booth, a guy just walked past the United Australia Party sign and said to no one in particular: ‘Vote for freedom? I thought Australia was free? Dumb f***s’.”

– Overheard at Glenbrook Public School in the Blue Mountains:

“I wonder how much these people get paid to work today?” and “Your wife is a domestic goddess”.

– A car with a big sign bearing Scott Morrison’s head and the words: “He’s cocking up the planet. No! Not Scott” was seen driving past a polling booth in the Sydney seat of Wentworth. Currently the electorate is held by Liberal MP Dave Sharma, however it’s expected to be a close call between him and independent challenger Allegra Spender.

Spotted at a polling booth in Wentworth. #auspolpic.twitter.com/ZoTtrynpEF

— Andrea Crothers (@abcrothers) May 20, 2022

– Overheard as a Labor volunteer attempts to give a pamphlet to a voter: “I’m not voting for Anthony Albanese, he’s not like Harry Potter, he can’t cast a spell over me.”

– Another pitiful review of the democracy sausage situation:

Nary the smell of a sausage at my polling booth. Coles and a chicken wrap and caffeine fix helped ease sorrow.

— LawrieM 2 x AZ, Pfizer Booster , Darkinjung land. (@Furlozza) May 21, 2022

– Glass half-full: “Election day. Might be a pain in the arse but we have got to do it. It’s good because once I vote I can go have some beers.” (Overheard at Leichhardt in Sydney’s Inner West)

– Another quip from Sydney’s Inner West: “There was a lack of sausage so there must be a lack of democracy here in Annandale.”

– Overheard in the south Sydney suburb of Peakhurst: “If Albo wins tonight, remember to turn your clocks 70 years forward tomorrow.”

– Spotted: A selection of political puns from the bake sale at Glenbrook Public School.

Spotted at Glenbrook Public School in Sydney's Blue Mountains. Picture: Supplied

– An artist has staged a public viewing of a statue of Prime Minister Scott Morrison that’s partly made out of coal. Author Jill Stark shared a photo of the #CoalMo piece which was placed at a polling booth in the Melbourne suburb of Prahran which is currently occupied by Greens member Sam Hibbins.

“Partly made of coal and probably more effective than our current Prime Minister,” she tweeted.

An artist has turned up to a Prahran polling booth with this plinth of #CoalMo. Partly made of coal and probably more effective than our current Prime Minister. #ausvotes#AusVotes22pic.twitter.com/1IMV7Qv2D7

— Jill Stark (@jillastark) May 21, 2022

– A friendly local punter capturing the current sentiment: “Let’s get this over and done with.”

– While this isn’t an overheard per se, these “democracy sausage dogs” do ease the (politically) tired and weary soul.

Democracy sausage dogs! #ausvotes#auspol#ausvotes22pic.twitter.com/HV7YAxXYHp

— Ian Royall 🏍 (@IanRoyall) May 21, 2022

They weren’t the only #democracydogs on show either.

#democracysausage#democracydogspic.twitter.com/32YokKJmqu

— Wenlei Ma (@WenleiMa) May 21, 2022

#democracysausage time. A tale in 3 parts. #ElectionDogs#ausvotespic.twitter.com/kv8G8QmCt3

— Mister Bailey OAM (@MissBaileyWoof) May 21, 2022

– Overheard in Penrith (a suburb in Greater Western Sydney): “What day is it today?”

– A conversation between a voter and revered sausage sizzle staff.

“Anyone want a sausage while they wait?”

“Can we eat it as we wait?”

“I don’t have a problem with it.”

“She’s just shown me she doesn’t have an ounce of integrity, just by how she responded to my question.”
- A voter in line behind me, after asking the LNP candidate about her support for an ICAC with teeth. #AusVotes22

— Roo 💃🏻 (@ruth_wearne) May 21, 2022

"I don't hold a pamphlet mate"

— 🐁The Uncouth Prophet! 🐵🙈🙉 (Blue Tick) (@UncouthProphet) May 21, 2022

🎶 there’s a hole in your budget dear labor dear labor 🎶 haha on repeat

— Steven Georgallis 🇬🇷🇨🇾🇦🇺 (@G7WTsteve) May 21, 2022

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