Expressing your democratic right does not mean taking it out on the polling booth volunteers.

I don’t consider myself particularly political but this year I decided to show my support for my local candidate and so I, and many others, stood at the polling booth handing out how-to-vote cards.

I have done a lot of unpleasant jobs in my life; I mean I am a journalist after all, but there were a few things I was not prepared for when it came to polling day.

Firstly – it’s on offer. That doesn’t mean you have to take it.

The amount of people who walked along and took papers from all parties is astounding. Really if you don’t have a bit of a clue by polling day who you support, then maybe you deserve the fine.

Some people walk along taking brochures and pamphlets as if they were vouchers. Bad news – they don’t get you anything for free. Worst of all, most people had dumped them in the recycling bin before even reaching the booth.

Next, you have the wannabe celebrities. No, we are not the paparazzi. We’re not trying to get your pic; we are just offering you helpful information. There is no need to rush past us arms waving like you’re Paris Hilton. We promise not to rush after you with our dangerous pieces of paper.

Then there are the blind, the ones who just can’t see the obvious. That is, the ones who even though the t-shirt says one party, they come up to you asking if you are the opposition. Um, No!

Lastly there are the revolutionaries; the ones who want you to give them a detailed explanation on the spot.

We are not politicians and no, despite the groovy t-shirts, we probably don’t know what a sound bite is. Expecting voting booth volunteers to convince you to vote for a party on the way to the ballot box is simply unfair and un-Australian!

So next time you are on the way to vote, give a thought for the volunteers choosing to spend their Saturday standing outside their old primary school in polyester, all because they support the cause. You never know where you may see them again.