20 Important Facts About Election Every Voter Should Know

In the elections for mayor of Rio de Janeiro in 1988, the population was so unhappy with politicians, that a well-known monkey (Macaco Tião) of the local zoo received over 400,000 votes.

Ronald Reagan won in 49 out of 50 states during the 1984 United States presidential election, missing in only one by less than 4000 votes.

If women wouldn’t have voted in USA elections between 1968 and 2004, the Republicans would have swept all presidential elections (except one).

In Switzerland, a group of citizens may challenge a law passed by parliament, if they gather 50,000 signatures against the law within 100 days. A national vote is scheduled where voters decide by a simple majority whether to accept or reject the law.

American astronauts on the ISS can vote in elections from orbit by secure email.

Women in New Zealand gained the right to vote in 1893, the first independent country to do so in modern times.

In 2010, a satirical political party in Reykjavik, Iceland, openly stated that they would keep none of their campaign promises. They won 34.7% of the city vote, with their founder, Jon Gnarr, a comedian becoming mayor.

Jigme Singye Wangchuck, the last king of Bhutan was so popular that his people protested when he revealed plans for democracy in 2011.

Senators in Mexico cannot immediately run for re-election and thus, the Senate is completely renewed every 6 years.

In Australia, voting is compulsory and citizens over 18 years of age are fined if they do not vote.