15 Intriguing Facts About Global Elections

Democracy is a diverse and adaptable system, and its cornerstone, the election, reflects this diversity. Discover how people worldwide—and even those beyond Earth—vote when their Election Day arrives.

1. Sundays are the most common day for elections globally.

While Americans typically vote on Tuesdays, most countries choose Sundays for their elections. English-speaking nations often break this trend; Canadians vote on Mondays, Brits on Thursdays, and Australians and New Zealanders on Saturdays.

The tradition of voting on Tuesdays in America dates back to the 19th century, when farmers required a full day to travel to polling stations and return home in time for Wednesday's market day.

2. Due to its immense size, Indian elections often span several weeks.

With nearly 100 million eligible voters, India stands as the largest democracy globally. To manage such a massive electorate, elections are conducted in phases, sometimes lasting months. For instance, the 2019 general election, which elected 543 members of parliament, unfolded in seven phases over five weeks.

3. Voter registration is automatic in Sweden and France.

Citizens in France and Sweden enjoy the convenience of automatic voter registration. In France, individuals are registered as soon as they turn 18, while Sweden uses tax records to compile its voter lists.

4. In Australia, voting is mandatory for all eligible citizens.

Australian law mandates that every citizen aged 18 and above must register and vote in federal elections [PDF]. Those who fail to vote face a fine of AU$20 (approximately $13 USD), with additional penalties or civil charges for non-payment.

5. In Brazil, voting rights are extended to teenagers as young as 16.

Since 1988, Brazilians as young as 16 have been granted voting rights. (Voting is compulsory for individuals aged 18 to 69, with fines imposed on non-voters.) Similarly, 16- and 17-year-olds can vote in Austria, Nicaragua, and Argentina, while 17-year-olds are eligible in Indonesia and Sudan. Certain German states allow 16-year-olds to vote in local and state elections, and since 2014, Scottish teens aged 16 and 17 have been permitted to vote in referendums and all Scottish Parliament elections (16-year-olds can now vote).

Research on elections involving 16- and 17-year-olds suggests that allowing younger individuals to vote fosters a more politically engaged population as they age. Additionally, participating teens often demonstrate a level of awareness about candidates and issues comparable to older voters.

6. Estonia offers the option to vote online.

Since 2005, Estonians have been able to vote online, bypassing traditional polling stations. While in-person voting remains prevalent, over half of voters in the 2023 parliamentary election opted for the online system. This is facilitated by a national ID card and PIN system, which citizens use for various civic duties, including taxes and library fines. (The ID card and PIN verify identity, but votes are encrypted to ensure anonymity.)

7. While voter turnout in the U.S. has risen, it still lags behind that of other developed nations.

The Pew Research Center reports that 62.8 percent of eligible voters (and 94.1 percent of registered voters) participated in the 2020 U.S. election. This marks an increase from the 57.2 percent turnout in 2012, yet it remains lower than in countries like Sweden (80.3 percent), South Korea (76.7 percent), and Iceland (75.8 percent).

8. Chile maintained separate voting for men and women until 2012.

Starting in 1930, when women gained the right to vote in local elections, Chilean men and women voted at separate locations. A distinct registry was established for female voters, who were still barred from national elections. This practice continued even after women gained full suffrage in 1949 and registries were merged. Although the government ended gender-segregated voting in 2012, the tradition persists in many areas.

9. Elections do take place in North Korea.

However, they are far from democratic. In the 2015 local elections, 99.7 percent of the electorate participated, but voters had no real choice. All candidates were pre-selected by the ruling party, and citizens simply dropped a pre-printed ballot into a box to show support. A second box allowed voters to reject candidates, yet every candidate received 100 percent approval, suggesting dissent was either nonexistent or ignored.

10. The British monarch has the right to vote.

No law prevents King Charles III from voting in the UK. However, his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, abstained to maintain political neutrality. During the 2016 Brexit referendum, a Buckingham Palace spokesperson explained, “The queen remains above politics … it’s a longstanding convention that the royal family does not vote in elections, and this extends to referendums.”

11. Governments employ creative solutions when literacy poses challenges during elections.

Gambians vote by dropping marbles into metal drums, each color-coded and displaying a candidate's image. A bell inside each drum rings when a marble is dropped, ensuring transparency. (Multiple rings indicate a rule violation.)

12. In New Zealand, pundits remain silent on Election Day.

Media and social media coverage that could sway election results is banned until 7 p.m. on Election Day. As one report notes, “TV commentators can’t even mention a candidate’s outfit, let alone speculate on winners. Political parties are instructed to deactivate their social media pages.” Violators face fines of up to NZ$20,000 (approximately $12,000 USD).

13. Astronauts are eligible to vote from space.

Since 1997, American astronauts on the International Space Station have been able to vote, thanks to a Texas law enabling secure ballots to be transmitted to space via Mission Control in Houston. After making their choices, astronauts send their ballots—PDF versions of traditional mail ballots—back to Earth, where officials decode and process them for counting.

14. Liechtenstein citizens vote on citizenship applications.

In Liechtenstein, a small European nation with a population of 40,000, voters decide not only on political candidates and referenda but also on granting citizenship to individuals who have lived in the country for at least 10 years.

15. An Ecuadorian election once began with a major mishap.

Ahead of a 1967 mayoral election in Ecuador, a company launched ads urging voters to support its widely-known foot powder brand for “well-being and hygiene.” The product won the election due to an overwhelming number of write-in votes.