The Importance of Voting
Dear Cloverdale Neighbours,
I hear from a lot of friends that they are not receiving their election cards. Word has it they will come before October 1st. Last election, millions did not vote. I just don’t understand this kind of apathy. Folks are fleeing their countries because they do not have that right and sometimes die in order not to have to live under despotic conditions but here we have a choice in who leads. You can’t complain about your government if you have not voted. By not voting it means you have made a choice to let others make your choice. Now our votes are counted according to a system called First Past The Post electoral system. Under this system, often governments get into power but they can have the popular vote of only half the population. That is far from democratic. There are other systems to conduct voting. Have you heard of proportional representation? I had no clue what it was but now I do and I support it because it will give a much fairer representation in Parliament.. Strange huh? Find out how each party will deal with fair voting in the future and please get out and vote, encourage your family members and friends to do so. Don’t just vote on the leaders’ reputations or who outspends the other, or outshouts the other in debates. Don’t just vote because someone has fame, or money to buy ad space or big signs, or can bombard you with flyers and phone calls over and over. Go listen to the person who is your local candidate and find out personally if you like them or you think they will do a good job for you. If that person does not want to talk to you now, do you really want them to be your member of parliament? Read their bios and statements in your local papers. Finally, do check on the following link which explains everything you need to know about voting and make sure you have all the identification papers you need before you head out to the poles. Advanced polling is October 9-11 from noon to 12 . If you can’t drive, phone your local candidate’s office (the one you want to vote for) and ask if they can drive you. What can be simpler?
Niovi Patsicakis
Retired Teacher/Education Advocate
