The authorities running the upcoming ACT election have bowed to pressure from Parents and Citizens Associations and lifted the ban on fund-raising "Democracy Sausage" sizzles outside voting locations.
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After Bunnings announced that it would allow sausage sizzles outside its stores from Saturday, P&Cs approached the ACT government.
They have now negotiated the right to set up stalls but are preparing a plan to ensure they are safe.
"We are really pleased that restrictions are easing," P&C president Kirsty McGovern-Hooley said.
She said the sausage sellers would follow the rules of take-away food providers. There would be social distancing. It is not clear if servers will wear masks.
Voters were encouraged to buy a sausage for a good cause but not to linger.
"Whoever is going on polling day is encouraged to buy a sausage but don't hang around," she said.
"We need to stay safe."
Ms McGovern-Hooley said she was particularly pleased because P&Cs had been starved of the opportunity of engaging with the wider community beyond schools and this was an opportunity - in a COVID-safe way.
Some P&Cs raise between $2000 to $5000 but it may be less this year because of the volume of early voting.
In the first four days of early voting up until Thursday evening, 32,786 votes had been cast compared with 9,664 in the same period in 2016.
It is not clear if the Electoral Commissioner has been involved. Earlier on Friday, a spokesman for the commission indicated that the Democracy Sausage event would not be welcome back - though it was a decision for the health and education authority.
Because of the epidemic, the commission has made it much easier to vote early this time.
There are 15 early voting centres compared with five in the previous election. They are open on more days and for longer, over the weekend and Monday's public holiday, for example, and from nine in the morning until eight at night on Fridays.
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Steve Evans
Steve Evans is a reporter on The Canberra Times. He's been a BBC correspondent in New York, London, Berlin and Seoul and the sole reporter/photographer/paper deliverer on The Glen Innes Examiner in country New South Wales. "All the jobs have been fascinating - and so it continues."
Steve Evans is a reporter on The Canberra Times. He's been a BBC correspondent in New York, London, Berlin and Seoul and the sole reporter/photographer/paper deliverer on The Glen Innes Examiner in country New South Wales. "All the jobs have been fascinating - and so it continues."
