How prepared are we to have our say on marriage equality if a fine or cake stall isn't involved? | Rebecca Huntley

The postal survey will be an interesting test of our civic engagement. Only if enough people take part will it become meaningful

As a strong supporter of same-sex marriage I am not happy about the postal survey. But as a career researcher, I am even more dismayed. It’s not a plebiscite, obviously. It’s not a vote as we understand it in the Australian context (not compulsory, not conducted by the Australian Electoral Commission and no satisfying sausage afterwards). And no self-respecting researcher would call it a survey. I’ve started referring to it as “a thingy”. But let me be clear – it is a vitally important “thingy”.

In fact it is probably more important to take part in this “thingy” because the usual rules around voting and surveys don’t apply. The results will not be weighted to reflect Australian Bureau of Statistics data, as any decent survey would be. And the usual carrot and stick involved in voting is absent. If enough Australians deliver their postal survey in time, we can transform this into something real and meaningful. If almost all of the community gets involved – not just the dedicated supporters for and against – then this “thingy” becomes something else. More than deciding the issue of marriage equality, it will also be an interesting test of our civic engagement. How prepared are we to have our say if a fine or a cake stall is not involved?

Related: Marriage equality support falls but yes vote still leads – Guardian Essential poll

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