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Wow, so I was way off my predictions (see original predictions here). Turns out the NDP were outgunned in Winnipeg and the Cons squeeked by in Vaughan (the Cons won in DSRM, but I think we all expected that). So all the Liberals and Conservatives cheer and celebrate and the NDP walk away with another by-election defeat (chin up brothers and sister, there always the fed election) while all of them remain, apparently, blind to the true and sad reality of this by-election. Nobody showed up. Oh sure, some 30% showed up on average to the by-elections, but that also means some 70% just stayed home because, apparently, they had better things to do then vote. Now, I’m sure some people were busy on a Monday. It’s the beginning of the workweek, you have lots of facebooking to do and coffee to drink, but many businessess also allow time to go out and vote. My old business alloted several hours in a day to vote during voting day.
So why didn’t anyone vote. Well, actually, I think the reasoning behind my prediction still stands. People by and large are tired of the politics in this country and are sending a message to politicians that they want change. However, the voters, in my opinion, are going about this the wrong way. The way to influence change IS to vote, not to abrogate your civic responsibility. Voting isn’t even that difficult. The people are always friendly and helpful, you get a nice little cardboard box to fill out your ballot in, and then you can fold it anyway you like and put it in the ballot box. Simple as that. I think, though, Canadians have seen what Ottawa has been up to in the last few years and are not happy. Perhaps they have seen things done by the government without the voters best interests in mind. Perhaps they see the waste and missmanagement, and the nepotism that runs rampant and they think “What’s the point? These guys we voted in are the same as the ones we kicked out?” And it’s true. They are!!
So before anyone celebrates or walks away with their head held down, remember, the biggest losers today are the Canadian voters because their democracy just got a little weaker.
We’ve had fringe parties coming to entertain us in the past; The Rhinocerous Party comes to mind. I wonder whatever happened to them? They were before your time. Then there was (they may still exist) The Marijuana party. Yet, they remain the fringe.
I think the low voter turn out is laziness, pure and simple. That is today’s culture. Today is all about quick fixes and instant gratification without having to work too hard for it.
I worked the polling station at the 2008 provincial elections. This was smack in the middle of the Universite de Montreal community. Yes, it was a very cold and icy December day, but like I said, this station was steps away from some of the residences of the U of M community. Yet, it was the senior citizens who came out to vote, all bundled up with their canes and walkers and needed help to their table; not the University people.
Also, you’re right about employers letting people out to vote, in fact, I think they’re obligated to by law.
I think the Aussies have it right. Manditory voting is the ticket here.