Chapter 15 : Arturo's visit

"No way? Is it really that crazy?" Henry was skeptical. Although he knew his good friend wasn't one to boast, he still couldn't bring himself to fully believe it.

"Oh, God, how can you not believe me? I bet when I arrived this morning, there were already at least a few hundred people here. I've never seen this building so packed before today," Martin said confidently.

Henry trusted his friend's words and continued asking, "Martin, how many candidates are there today? We won't even be able to get into the state assembly, will we?"

The sheer number of people made Henry, who had always been confident, doubt himself a little. The competition in Sydney is the fiercest in all of Australia. Even Henry, who had always been popular, feared he might not even make it into the state parliament.

"Probably over a thousand. I'm afraid there will be at least a few thousand candidates during election week. But you don't need to worry too much, Henry. In the decades since you took office, you must have helped hundreds, if not thousands, of families. As long as half of them still remember you, you'll definitely win this election." Martin looked at his friend's worried expression and couldn't help but find it a little amusing.

For municipal government officials like them, running for council has always had its advantages.

After all, legislators have the power to participate in the development and construction of the country. Even if they are legislators from a small state, they can elect the governor and formulate state development policies.

This also means that this position requires a certain level of political talent, which gives them an edge over ordinary Australians.

Moreover, Henry has been quietly helping many poor families in Sydney, which has also earned him a good reputation in Sydney's political circles.

Considering all these factors, Henry is one of the most advantaged candidates. Even if he fails in the election and can't make it into the House of Commons, he will undoubtedly have more than enough qualifications to enter the State Assembly.

"I hope so. After all, parliamentary elections are held every two years. If I can't get into the House of Commons this time, there's always next time, right?" After being reassured by his good friend, Henry became more open-minded and gradually relaxed.

Shortly after, a path suddenly opened through the crowded State House. Several guards entered with a list and positioned themselves in the center. After signaling for everyone to quiet down, they announced:

"Ladies and gentlemen, by the order of His Royal Highness the Duke, the first elections for the Lower House of the Principality of Australia have officially begun! Here is a list. Those who wish to participate in these elections may register. After registering, you will become formal candidates. From today until the 17th, you may give speeches and campaign for votes throughout the Sydney electoral district, but you are not allowed to use bribes or coercion. At the same time, any votes cast by candidates for themselves will be considered abstentions, and only votes cast by others for you will be counted. The voting period ends at midnight on the 17th, and ballots will be invalid after the deadline. These are the rules. Now, those who wish to participate may come here and queue up to register."

This scene played out in all cities divided into electoral districts. As these were the first elections for Australia's Lower House, these guards were responsible for overseeing the electoral process while also explaining the specific procedures and rules to all participants.

Among the rules, the guards specifically emphasized the prohibition of bribery and the use of coercive means to force others to vote, something that Arthur also strictly prohibited throughout the entire voting process.

"Martin, let's go. If we're late, who knows how long we'll have to wait!" Seeing the long line forming in front of the guards, Henry hurriedly urged his friend.

For Australians, casting their vote is simple: they only need to register their name, address, and the candidate they support, and the vote will be considered successful.

But as a candidate, it's not easy to win these elections.

After all, in Sydney alone, there will be at least thousands of candidates emerging over the course of this week. Standing out among these thousands and becoming one of the few dozen who ultimately enter the House of Commons is as difficult as climbing to the heavens.

But once you enter the House of Commons, you ascend to the upper echelons of Australia's political institutions and become eligible for election to the cabinet.

With a bit of luck, you might even earn Arthur's trust and enter the House of Lords.

Perhaps driven by the dream of developing their country, or fulfilling their ambition to become politicians, or simply out of curiosity and a desire to participate in an election, these House of Commons elections were well-received by most Australians.

May 10, 10 PM.

When Arthur saw today's election data for Sydney, he was shocked.

In just one day, Sydney had 1,342 candidates and 96,300 votes.

The candidate with the most votes had received nearly 500 votes, gaining a significant early advantage in the electoral process.

This also sparked Arthur's curiosity about the election's progress, and he decided to visit the election site in person to see for himself.

May 17, State Parliament of Sydney, New South Wales.

This was the final day of Australia's House of Representatives election and also the craziest day of the entire process.

After six days of elections, Sydney alone had over 5,300 candidates and more than 205,000 votes cast.

Although the statistical data from other states hadn't been delivered to Arthur due to the short time frame, it could be inferred from Sydney's numbers that the total participation in this election was definitely not low, far exceeding Arthur's original estimate.

Because it was the last day of the election, Arthur decided to visit the site in person to take a look and win over the people's hearts.

It was the same state capitol as always. Martin and Henry stood outside the chamber, discussing their respective votes.

Since it was the final day of the election, even if they gave more speeches today, the number of votes they could gain would be minimal.

So, Martin and Henry decided to leave it to fate and see if their efforts over the past few days would bear fruit, allowing them to enter the House of Commons of their dreams.

At that moment, they suddenly heard a loud shout from the crowd: "His Highness is coming! His Highness is coming!"

"The Prince is here? Let's go take a look. If we're too late, we won't be able to get in." Martin immediately got excited and urged his friend to run toward the commotion.

On the street in front of the State House, Arthur slowly stepped out of his carriage. As he adjusted his clothes, he smiled and waved to the excited and enthusiastic crowd surrounding him.