EVERY VOTE MATTERS

Democracy is not a one-size-fits-all endeavour – and neither is its essential mechanism, the election. People around the world – and some out of this world – perform this essential civic duty under rather unique conditions.

Compulsory voting

Every Australian over 18 is required by law to register to vote and to participate in federal elections. Anyone who doesn’t show up on election day is fined AU$20 (around USD 15). Failure to pay that fine results in even steeper penalties and can also lead to a criminal charge.

Automatically registered voters

People in France and Sweden don’t need to worry about making time to register ahead of election day. The government automatically registers voters when they’re eligible – in France, that’s as soon as people turn 18. Sweden relies on tax registries to create lists of eligible citizens.

Cast your vote online

Since 2005, Estonians have had the ability to vote online instead of waiting in line at their local polling stations. Although an Estonian’s ID card and PIN are used to confirm his or her identity on election day, the vote itself is encrypted, rendering it anonymous.

Voting from space

Astronauts aboard the International Space Station have had the ability to vote since 1997. Once astronauts make their selections, their ballots – PDFS of the paper ballots they’d receive in the mail – are beamed back down to Earth, where clerks open the encoded documents and submit a hard copy of the astronaut’s ballot for counting.

Young kids can vote

Since 1988, Brazilian citizens have had the right to vote at age 16. 16 and 17-year-olds are also eligible to vote in Austria, Nicaragua, and Argentina, while 17-year-olds can cast votes in Indonesia and Sudan.