Word meanings: history 4

Voting Around the World

1. Around the globe, voting day is a key part of elections. Although most nations share the same goal—to choose the best leaders—each country handles this important day in an individual way.
2. Where a person lives decides which day of the week they cast their ballots. British citizens vote on Thursdays. Canadians vote on Mondays. For New Zealanders, decision day falls on a Saturday. Since the nineteenth century, voting in the United States has happened on Tuesdays.
3. Across the oceans, rules vary as to when you can start voting. Teens from Brazil, Austria, Indonesia, and Sudan can start voting at 16 years old. Most other nations, including Finland, the United States, and Malawi, have set the minimum voting age at 18.
4. In many countries, voting is compulsory instead of optional. Australians who don’t vote are charged a fine. Belgian law requires citizens to show up to vote, but interestingly, they don’t actually have to cast a vote. North Koreans over the age of 17 must vote (although there’s only ever one candidate on the ticket).
5. Globally, voting operations range from simple to complicated. Some citizens of Gambia drop a marble into the metal drum that displays their preferred candidate’s photo. Egyptian citizens ink their pointer fingers and then mark their selection on a paper ballot.
6. Since 2005, Estonia has allowed its citizens to vote online. Members of the US military can submit their votes by e-mail or on a secure website. And for US astronauts aboard the International Space Station? No problem! These space travelers can beam their electronic ballots down to NASA Mission Control.
7. No matter which way it’s done, it’s clear that voting is important to the citizens of the world.