[KangarooJacqui]

Compulsory voting, Australian-style, in a nutshell (to hold some pretty big nuts, like that Perth girl in the rainbow skirt...)

It works something like this. Between the ages of 17 and 18, you're eligible to register to vote (this is because our politicians like springing elections on us whenever they dang well please, unlike the American system.) Everyone over age 18 who is a citizen of Australia is supposed to be enrolled to vote (and with government agency cross-checking, this is happening more and more in this wondrous computer age.) And every election that comes along, be it local council, state, or Federal, you have to vote (or at least show up at the polling booth on the voting day, to get your name ticked off and a few voting slips get handed to you). Penalties for not voting are, at last check, a $20 fine. (I think the last time they looked at the penalties was back when I was in the third grade or something... anyway...)

[Army Air Corps]

Wow! That sounds practically Orwellian.
So, your politicos can hold an election or referendum any time they please? Gads, that is a handy way for them to get away with quite a bit of chicanery. On the other hand, advance notice of an election issue does not always help the voter.
I recall a vote on the Applewhite reservoir when I lived in San Antonio. Half-way through construction, enviro-weenies compelled the city to hold a vote on whether or not to complete the project. That was a lulu of a referendum.