Weird election traditions around the world 

Other cool think about US politics/international online culture is the tradition of associating certain candidate/movements with certain emojis like: Yang: 🧢 Socialism: 🌹 Alt right: 🐸 🥛 Buttigieg: 🐝 US Conservatives: 🇺🇸 Tulsi Gabbard: 🌺 Dems: 🌊 Tories: 🌳

In Russia, they have the tradition of electing the same guy over and over again.

That birthday girl rosette totally cracked me up.

by calling a democracy sausage a hot dog , australia takes this as a act of war against our great nation

Only true brits understand the real election battle, Lord Bucket head VS Count Binface!

I love how JJ manages to be both incredibly polite and scathing at the same time 😂

Oh god, the part where you made the Cai Ying Wen and Han Guo Yu dolls kiss, I needed to call somebody to hold my beer.

I own a rosette from the UK general election 2019. You can get the rosette if you talk to a campaigner for said party. Also the Exit Poll is also a huge tradition in the uk. It's revealed when Big Ben strikes 10pm. It pretty dramatic and usually accurate. I know other countries have them but its a huge thing in the UK.

In India 🇮🇳 , after voting, our index fingernail is inked by election officials. This is a very symbolic thing for Indians and everyone display their inked fingers proudly to show they voted. In modern times virtually every youngster post pics of his finger in social media😊

i honestly think Hillary Clinton"s campaign book "what happened?" is funny just for the title alone .

in Ireland we just talk shit about the other parties we don't like and drink if we don't get our way

"birthday girl" for more than half the video. I couldn't stop giggling.

Do weird/strange/interesting independence movements around the world

China: Can we have some civic rituals? CCP: How about you shut up & get back to work? China: Guess I can't complain. CCP: You most definitely can't.

“I say Taiwanese democracy is here to stay”

I went to one of these community meals in rural Connecticut. Mostly lasagnas, homemade chicken soup, and polish sausages (there's quite a few polish people in my town)

I lived in the Philippines during their last election season and the tradition that stuck out most to me was having different vehicles going around blasting a jingle written for the candidate and it was usually a parody of a popular song at the time.

In Cyprus for some reason the press calls voting “the people’s holy right,” and when someone has voted they say, “they have chosen to initiate their holy right,” and whenever the votes are counted and the result is announced the elected president gives a speech in a place, usually GSP stadium. It’s also a very common stereotype, for some reason, that the poor don’t vote and the rich do, so it’s very hard for the left to win.

Fun fact: today is the parliamentary election in Slovakia.

In Brazil, we also have some “Democracy food”. Pastry with Cane Juice can be found anywhere near a voting station.

Happy birthday! To the birthday girl herself ...J.J. McCullough!!!

I stayed up to 3AM waiting to watch this vid. Thanks for featuring the stuff from Taiwan! Enjoy the snacks as well!

“Turqoise is for...whatever Nigel Farage is” I’M SCREAMINGGGG

An election tradition in my country that's thankfully no longer done is murders in the precinct. Lmao

In Oregon our new tradition is vote by mail. Most people in the U.S. seem to assume it's a really bad and insecure system only used for absentee voters, but over here in Oregon and some of Washington we vote exclusively by mail. I find that by voting at home, you can actually look up information on some smaller candidates you'd otherwise be left in the dark over, discuss with friends/family, and do it whenever wherever. We also have some of the highest voter turnouts in the U.S. and insanely low voter fraud because of the paper trail ballots leave by mail. Oh and not to mention it's insanely cheaper than any polling place.

So stoked the last general election in Oz, my polling station had vegetarian democracy sausages 😂 Australia has compulsory voting so a sausage defs sweetens the deal

In Florida, we have "Souls to the Polls" where a number of churches, many in the African-American Communities go to church after mass. Some of the Churches have sandwiches and Mac & Cheese, tea, and cookies post service. Then church members caravan to the polls for early voting on Sundays.

9:46 best part of the video

Ireland has nuns at the polling station, a tradition that is far older than dogs at the polling station, cos it stretches back to at least the 60s. Ireland is also unusual in that it is probably one of the only countries where prominent politicians from another country (kinda sorta not really its up for contention) will actively campaign in: e.g. the Deputy Minister of Northern Ireland Michelle O'Neill campaigned for Sinn Féin in the Republic, Fianna Fáil (a party in the Republic) TDs campaigning for the northern Social Democratic and Labour Party

democracy sausages? coulda called them “demodogs”

That intense make out scene at 9:54 may get you demonetized J.J.

In Venezuela, where I come from, the most interesting election tradition is oficial campaign songs by candidates.

Since election day (voting day) in South Africa is always a public holiday, people have braais to celebrate the unity and togetherness of the country and its democracy, and people all over the country may wear some traditional clothing items of their ethnicity or something with the South African flag on it.

I love the kissing parts during Taiwan stuff: Smile on JJs face...:D

I can’t speak for other university towns, but when I went to Ohio State, a lot of local business would offer free food items (with or without a purchase) if you come in wearing an “I ❤️ Voting” sticker.

The fact that you made Tsai and Han stuffy toys made out with each other after they lay out their political beliefs for Taiwan is a fucking win in my book.

Here in Mexico after voting, they paint your thumb with ink to prevent you from voting twice (the ink cannot be washed), if you go to a supermarket ("Oxxo" or "7-Eleven") and show your thumb they give you free coffee

In Ireland, there's an election tradition where a candidate who has just been elected is lifted up in the air on the shoulders of their cheering supporters 🇮🇪

In the U. S. a tiny town in New Hampshire always votes right at midnight on election day, and the media reports the outcome, kind of like Groundhog Day. They always predict the winner, except when they don't.

In my city in the uk (Sunderland) we sort of pride ourself as traditionally being the first city to finish counting their vote. Although the last couple of election we have been placing second behind our neighbouring city (Newcastle).

In Australia, it's illegal to campaign before an official declaration of an election. Unfortunately, Clive Palmer didn't get the memo sadly. But usually this keeps everyone sane and it's good.

As a Taiwanese, I would like to give some more information about all that stuff. Only the dolls are actually merchandise. All other items are "gift" that candidates "can legally" give to the public. And there is a very straight rule that each item needs to be under around 1 $ (US) to not be classified as a bribe. So we collect all these items from all candidates for free.

In Kentucky, we have candidates fight it out with their baseball bats, while drinking bourbon, with KFC buckets on their heads, all at the Kentucky Derby. We're a really wild state.

2:06 Annual Election Day Dinner Elections once every four years *Annual* *Four years* *Annual* *Four Years*

Here in Finland we have the "vaalikahvi" election coffee tradition where the candidates always give their supporters a cup of coffee.

JJ thinks he’s funny... regrettably, I agree with him

A civic tradition we have in Ireland (I could be corrected on this on whether or not it is on JJ) is the #HomeToVote; which is because so many Irish people live outside of the country and it is not possible to vote if you’re not physically in the country many people will make the trip back home to just vote on key issues. The 8th referendum on the constitutional ban on Abortion had people travelling from places like Hanoi and Tokyo to vote on it. We also have the infamous election songs by rural candidates which is starting to become a brand new thing.

Democracy sausage looks like the “food at home” Mom keeps talking about.

8:54 "all of you, against the wall" Comrade Bernard

Fun fact: The guy wearing a green rosette at 4:46 is Bernie Sanders's brother

Where I lived during the 2016 Presidential Election, it was common that the sticker you got was the color of the Party you voted for, and then you give them to your children the day after the election, so everyone at school had Red "I Voted!" Stickers the next day. I had a yellow one (my parents voted for Gary Johnson), and there were like 3 kids with blue stickers. Very Solid Republican county.

one thing i’ve noticed is that in other countries, they like to put candidates’ faces on their billboards and yard signs, but that is something i seldom see in the us, offices big and small

As a law student who majored in Political Science, your channel is everything I wish I had done with the knowledge I acquired from my studies. I seriously LOVE your content and approach to educating people on political issues.

democracy.. *laughs in saudi*

As a British person, I had literally never realised that other countries didn't have rosettes or live vote read-outs.

In Australia, at least in my experience, a 'hot dog' is a specific flavor of sausage in a particular bun, whereas the things they traditionally sell on election day--a normal sausage in a slice of white bread--is a sausage sandwich.

The Australian tradition reminds of the saying "It's better not see how laws and sausages are made".

In Austria there is this (not very unique) tradition that every party hosts an election party where they more or less just watch the reporting of the national news channel and cheer or look sad if they have made wins or losses. Also the national news usually interviews the main politicians of the respective parties at the election parties. This creates this weird paradox where the people at the party watch the news while the news mostly shows stuff from there. Also a little bit off topic: the Austrian far-right politicans (nearly 100% white men over their 40s mind you) used to release songs (mostly raps) as ads for their party.

In Norway, we hold mock elections in the high schools before the actual election. Don't know if that is done elsewhere.

9:45 This would be the best out of context JJ McCullough clip ever!

9:47 This is the best thing ever

I've lived in Australia since I was born and I didn't even know about democracy sausages until now.

This has absolutely nothing to do with this video but I was always wondering what kinds of things I liked about other countries. I just couldn't describe it well enough. And when you said it, I knew what it was. Middle class culture.

In Ireland its expected that the winning candidate will be literally hoisted into the air on the shoulders of their supporters at the count centre, and because of our STV voting system volunteers for each of the candidates hover over the shoulders of the vote counters to ensure the tallies are accurate

9:57 cracked me up 🤣😂

9:55 ok bit of a look tho

In Ohio we have stickers that say “I (Ohio) Voting” to basically mean “I ❤️ Voting” but using the shape of Ohio instead

Me: *noticing that Mrs. Tsai doll's absence from JJ's shelf* JJ: *pulls her out of the box*

1:13 I wasn't expecting to see my exact county's voting sticker first

The Susan B Anthony thing reminds me of the thing where people put penny’s Lincoln side up on Booths grave

This may be a late comment, but in the small Idahoan city close to the Canadian boarder that I got to every once in a while to visit my grandparents, they always had Election Day suppers. The thing is, they served Election Day breakfast. It was always scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage and pancakes. I love Idaho

As the son of bureaucrats, I find civil traditions to be either endearing or infuriating. No in-between. Like how in a US Embassy, you have to stand up and stop working whenever the ambassador enters the room. Kinda authoritarian.

Everywhere around the world: Candidates write campaign memoires. In Belgium: leader of one of the biggest parties wrote a book about baking bread.

For those who don't know that's actually Bernie Sander's brother Larry Sanders at 4:47

That was soo good thank you JJ team you are excellent.

I remember being like 7 and my parents taking me to those suppers and the junior I voted stickers. Those suppers were always like pancakes, chicken, bread, pasta, and sometimes muffins. I have no idea why but this is so nostalgic for me.

Japan has a tradition of campaign flatbed trucks driving around with ads on the back and loud speaker with the candidate's message. The US' county fair visit by candidates are a major thing. The opposite of that dinner with rich people, you eat unhealthy fair food to relate to the regular folks. The US also have an election tradition of closing down places that voters can legally get ID cards that let them vote in high minorities and poor counties. Hong Kong has a tradition of retroactively disqualifying just enough winning candidates after they've won, sworn into office, started working, and demanding a refund of allotted office decoration funds so the pro-establishment will always maintain a majority.

4:46 That's Bernie Sanders' brother, Larry. He's a Green party candidate here in Oxford. He's the original Bernie bro. :-)

What a fun video!! 😍😂 All the stuff you have around does add a lot :D

The little smile you had on your face after making the two Taiwanese candidates kiss was the funniest thing ever

Where I live in the US, they have bake sales at voting places. Usually it's at places where older people vote.

I proudly wore my ‘I voted’ sticker when I lived in Minnesota . It was a great way to let my fellow citizens know. Now that I live in Washington State, we vote by mail. No stickers.

Happy birthday JJ. You go girl.

The best part of the UK vote announcement is seeing a high profile candidate who’s lost their seat (usually one big one an election) having to grimace their way through the announcement live on a televised stage.

In Denmark, politicians usually hand out pastries, juice or other breakfast like items in the morning near train stations, big work places universities etc. It is also very common to eat “Valgflæsk” on election night for dinner. This is the national dish of Denmark and consists of fried pork belly, boiled potatoes and parsley sauce. “Valgflæsk” is also a term that is used to criticize, when a politician makes a promise, which is obviously too good to be true and kept after the election.

Here in Oregon we do a “crab feed” every year to celebrate the election

In Brazil, on election day, whoever runs the candidates' campaign fills the door where the "santinhos" vote will take place (they are like small photos of the candidates with their electoral code).

Denny's usually has a $1.99 election special. It includes most items off of their breakfast menu ( which is 80% of their menu lol).

Happy birthday, birthday girl!

It's okay J.J., at least you are the cutest birthday girl, so wear that rosette proudly.

The bit with the dolls of Tsai and Han kissing was so stupid but it made me laugh so hard

My childhood church did pancake breakfasts a couple times a year, and also a soup potluck was the big event. A lot of times they would also have spaghetti dinners for clubs and stuff and fundraisers, but I’ve never heard of it for elections

You might be interested in some of the Israeli election traditions. The parties all come out with ad friendly election "jingles", plaster an obscene amount of public space with posters (not that unusual, but the extent of it is), the major parties usually have concerts (the Labor Party and secular centrist parties, being mostly old and Ashkenazi, has lots of Barry Manilow type performers, while Likud, a much younger, religious, and Mizrahi party, has lots of Zionist Rappers and Moroccan themed music), and because government formation is an inherent part of Israeli politics with no majorities, all of the major parties pretend like they won on election night despite blatantly making it up. Pretty fun media driven traditions. The culinary aspects aren't really there, though.

I have actually been to a few of those dinners when some of my grandparents lived in a small town when I was a kid. I remember they were usually potluck like meals, but the hosting location would have a main dish they'd prepare. If it was in the mornings it was a breakfast so it was usually pancakes and if it was later in the day it was spaghetti. I mostly just remember the food and that usually if it was a breakfast I didn't really like to go because other than pancakes it meant that there'd be biscuits, rolls, and scrambled eggs. Maybe someone would bring other things. Once I remember it was at the church my grandparents hosted and my grandmother had asked prior what I would bring if I could and I said cereal. So she bought a bunch of different kinds of cereal and brought that as well as chocolate and strawberry Nesquick milk....so she was definitely the favorite of amongst the kids. LOL The lunches/dinners would have spaghetti and someone would bring garlic bread or breadsticks and then there'd be a lot of desserts. Those were definitely my favorite! So many cakes, cupcakes, and pies!! A couple years after my grandparents passed away I got invited by a friend who lived in a nearby small town to one. It was actually after the polls closed and they had the television on one of the stations broadcasting the results as they came in. Instead of food, it was an ice-cream social type thing with ice cream sundaes, ice cream floats, and ice cream cakes. They also some board games for kids to play, though by this time I was a teenager so preferred to sit with my fellow teens and talk. I never even thought about these things as rituals and traditions. I have a Bernie Bear from the Vermont Teddy Bear Company from 2016 that they offered for sale. I have a few of the books from candidates over the years, but stopped buying them because of reasons like you cited. I mostly have bumper stickers as those are handed out like crazy at local parades here by the two major parties for all their candidates. They don't even ask what party you are, they'll just hand you some bumper stickers and the kids some candy and keep on going by. You can also usually pick them up along with buttons at the tables they have set up on the sidewalk somewhere nearby the parade or on the courthouse lawn depending on where the event has allowed tables to be set up. I have campaign sign from a Sanders rally in OKC in 2016. It's not often that candidates visit Oklahoma, let a lone have big rallies here. I had gotten one during an Obama rally in 2008 when I traveled with friends, but I gave it a friend who had went who left with nothing I had buttons, stickers, and a bumper sticker. We had to travel to Missouri to that rally, though. When you join the local county party and pay your membership dues you get a little pin (elephant if Republican, donkey if Democrat) that you can wear. I lost my Republican elephant pin when I moved, but I have two donkey pins (an earlier standing donkey design and then the redesigned kicking donkey). I don't yet have anything for 2020, though I did see a friend had posted on social media a store that had Election Buddies I think is what they were called and they made a bunch of the 2020 Democratic presidential candidates into dolls like what you showed the Taiwan folks do. I thought that was a neat idea, but didn't buy any since they were usually sold out of the candidates I like/liked (some are no longer in the race). I haven't checked the site in several months, though, not even sure if its still a thing. I think the rosettes are neat. I noticed them when I watched the election coverage on the BBC App last December. Honestly, it's been neat to watch coverage of other places' elections like Canada, UK, and India last year. Normally I just get that news from various local news sources if I can find it and so I don't actually get to see it come in and hear the commentary, etc. So 2019 was neat for that! I didn't realize the I VOTED stickers were a uniquely American thing. Interesting. Also didn't know it started in the 1980s. In the county where I live we use the generic oval one that you showed. But when I lived in a county that's part of the state's largest metro area they had different round stickers that were a lot nicer! I liked them. I also have seen ones from other states since I have friends that live elsewhere and will show stickers. Coincidently, those stickers are used by the local Tribes during their government elections. My previous long-term boyfriend is a member of a local tribe, as our some of my friends, and they often have to vote for tribal governors and other elected positions as well as on ballot proposals. They always got an I VOTED sticker when voting. The same sticker, though, as what they hand out for local, county, state, and federal elections. If they were different, I'd see about getting you one. Same with anything else in the state. Though so much is so "normal" to me that I honestly don't realize it's "unique" to my state or at least different enough to be appreciated by those not from here until it's pointed out by people not from here. A friend from Maine visited and I met him in OKC and he was fascinated with the Bricktown District in downtown OKC and especially enamored with the artistic bison art scattered around. A friend from India was fascinated by how much open space there was even in OKC. A friend from California came to visit and besides being fascinated with the large grain elevators in my home town or the monster bridge (East Maine Street Railroad bridge that has a monster face because it "eats trucks", lol look it up it has its own Facebook page and there are videos on RU-vid), one night while driving back to my house I had to stop for some deer on the road near mill in the middle of town and he was just in awe of the fact that deer were right there in town. A friend from Ireland came to visit during the Red Earth Festival and I think we spent a good majority of his time here visiting places that sold Native American things. I grew up around it since my great grandmother was full blood Blackfoot and I grew up with teachers and friends from various local tribes that it all seems commonplace to me that I hadn't even thought someone would be interested in that. Definitely changed my plans for his visit, but he had a good time and I learned he was really into Native American stuff as well as I got reminded to appreciate where I live, so win-win I think.

Thanks for the video J.J.

This was so interesting to watch, especially with my role as a campaign manager in the upcoming New Zealand general elections! Our election this year was supposed to be on September 19th, but due to covid-19 - has been delayed until October 17th... I have tonnes of NZ version rosettes if you'd like me to send you one?

Birthday Girl! 😂

Chiang Kai-Shek would be proud, JJ

If you wanna know what happens to Daruma dolls, they’re typically burned after the second eye is drawn on, either on a specific date (such as New Years), or just whenever the person feels like it. I found this out oddly enough through Pokémon.

In Denmark, at the polling stations (at least at our local one) after casting your vote, you can take a piece of candy from a bowl at the registration table.