Bang Xiao, a 30-year-old Chinese immigrant, recently voted freely for the first time in Australia’s 2025 federal election. This moment is a huge step on his path to citizenship. In some ways, this moment is the most significant personal achievement yet for Xiao. It points to the tough realities of democracy being faced in many countries around the globe. His experience contrasts sharply with his early voting days in China, where he first participated in an election at 16 years old.
The voting experience in China was closely monitored and staged. Bang Xiao recalls going to cast his first vote at a high school gymnasium-style polling station set up in an indoor athletics track. The atmosphere was anything but casual. The room felt cold and regimented, with three intimidating large red drop boxes taking center stage for students to drop off their ballots. His school required that all employees and all students take the course, which made it feel more like an obligation than an option. Xiao found this whole approach profoundly inspiring. He commented that the whole process was just like the elections he had watched on TV in the United States.
Early Voting Experience in China
When Bang Xiao was growing up in China, he and his fellow students learned about democracy. Their education came in dusty textbooks that taught them a beautified, sanitized version of their political system. They had learned that China was a democratic country, but Xiao’s firsthand experience of voting contradicted this idea. The lack of genuine electoral choice and the controlled environment led him to view the process differently as he matured.
It was this early engagement that ignited a deep sense of civic responsibility in Xiao. Before long, he came to understand that democracy in China would not be the kind of democracy for which people truly yearn. As he grew older, he began to experiment with different political structures. After this experience, the reality of democracy hit him hard outside of just the textbook definition that he was learning in school.
Though excited about her future, Xiao felt the challenges and opportunities that met her when she first arrived in Australia in 2007 as an international student. One of the first things he realized was that the Australian political landscape was radically different than what he had known back in China. His parliamentary system gave him a wider array of opportunities to pursue. It gave him the strength to go further and address the political process.
The Path to Australian Citizenship
In 2023, Bang Xiao began his formal journey toward Australian citizenship, a process that would eventually lead him to cast his first vote in a free election. He got his Australian citizen certificate from Australian Member of Parliament, Mr. Peter Khalil. Once inside, the ceremony featured a robust, exuberant celebration of diversity and inclusion. This poignant moment was a personal victory for Xiao. It further highlighted the importance of participation on all levels and how vital advocacy is to a healthy democratic society.
As a new citizen, Xiao found himself having to learn quickly about the complicated and dense world of party platforms and policy debates. While that change was not without its hardships, it’s easy to fall victim to the complexities of political discourse. Newcomers especially can be overwhelmed trying to figure out how various actors stack up against their values and beliefs. This is particularly difficult if they’re not versed in local advocacy issues or the electoral processes.
To ensure that first time voters like Bang Xiao don’t get flummoxed, technology-fueled ingenuity is already making an impact. To ease accessibility, artificial intelligence is powering the production of these voter guides in more than a dozen languages. This ensures that people are getting the information that meets their needs best. Digital campaigns are doing their part to demystify the electoral process and inspire positive, informed engagement with Australia’s multicultural society.
Democracy Under Scrutiny
The benefits of living in a democratic society are often self-evident. Soon after this trial began, a new debate emerged about whether democracy is working as it should in Australia. Many citizens are rightfully worried about growing political polarization and the ability of government to effectively respond to urgent challenges. Global events have clearly catalyzed these discussions. Donald Trump’s re-election and increasing antagonism resulting from the US-China trade war are crucial to this story.
The challenges to democracy are interrelated well beyond our own borders, and shape attitudes towards democracy and governance across the globe. As for Bang Xiao, it’s been an eye-opening experience to watch all of these debates take place. He reflects on the ways in which varying cultural contexts shape people’s understandings of democracy. His own path from a highly controlled voting process in China to a more open democratic process in Australia represents this change.
Xiao appreciates the liberties afforded to him as an Australian citizen. He understands the price to be paid in engaging with a democracy. He encourages and participates in conversations around political efficacy. This has proven to be a bedrock feature for him as he explores and adjusts to life within his new colleagues’ homeland.
Leave a Reply