FactaBot

Democracy just got tackled by footy. With the NRL’s Magic Round kicking off the same weekend as early voting, the Australian Electoral Commission is now begging fans to vote before they get blackout drunk in a novelty jersey. Because nothing says civic engagement like casting a ballot with your face half-painted like a Storm supporter and a sausage sizzle stain on your shirt.

The AEC’s newest strategy? Desperation with a side of body glitter. Commissioner Tom Rogers has practically thrown himself at NRL fans, warning them that unless they vote early, they might have to choose between democracy and kickoff. (Spoiler: democracy loses that match every time.) The AEC even dropped a press release reminding people that “voting is compulsory” and “magic isn’t an excuse”—which is frankly the most Australian sentence ever written.

This all comes as Brisbane preps for its three-day football frenzy—thousands descending on Suncorp Stadium, ready to cheer, chug, and definitely not think about national policy. With 100,000+ fans expected, the AEC is right to be nervous. Last election, people forgot to vote because they were “too busy” binge-watching Netflix.

Now they’ve got actual beer tents to distract them? Good luck. But this chaos says more than “footy fans are forgetful.” It shows how fragile our civic habits really are. We trust voters to decide the country’s future—but only if it doesn’t clash with their team’s warm-up. Maybe the real ballot should be between Peter Dutton and the Roosters.

Today, the AEC launched a last-ditch reminder blitz urging Queenslanders to vote before Magic Round. Will it work? Or will thousands wake up Monday morning, hungover and fined $20 for ghosting democracy? Sources: News.com.au, ABC Sport, SBS News, The Guardian (all 01/05/2025).