Did you vote?

[PhotobearSam]

Just wondering if DISers are more civic minded then the rest of the country.

 

[DearDaisyinDurham]

Just wondering if DISers are more civic minded then the rest of the country.

I would bet so - I have personally never met a more thoughtful, kind, caring and considerate online community than on this very DIS Canadian board.

I would also say DIS'ers vote more b/c they are conscientious and detail oriented. We plan a lot!!!!

 

[wee-haggis]

I can't believe that only 50 (and some odd)% actually do vote !
Its a sad reflection on how young folk think about the future of their country (I say young,because they reckon that they make up the vast majority of the non-voters).
I hear they are looking at ways to vote without actually showing up at a polling station (online etc). I cant see them being able to think of a way to ensure that "one person-one vote" actually happens.

 

[declansdad]

I think it was more than young people that didn't vote. I think it was more of a statement about what people thought about the campaign and a needless election.

 

[minnie56]

I can't believe that only 50 (and some odd)% actually do vote !
Its a sad reflection on how young folk think about the future of their country (I say young,because they reckon that they make up the vast majority of the non-voters).
I hear they are looking at ways to vote without actually showing up at a polling station (online etc). I cant see them being able to think of a way to ensure that "one person-one vote" actually happens.

My 2 DD's voted...(24 and 21) and the 21 yr old took time out of her University course selection to do so!! It's very important to them.

 

[MelXThree]

I have never voted, I know, I know but the truth is I don't belive a word that comes out of any of there mouths It is frustrating to listen to them. I know it's not any better to stick my head in the sand either but listening to all of them makes me want to bang my head against a wall

 

[BitsnBearsMom]

I like to reserve my right to complain

No vote = no complaining!!

 

[declansdad]

I have never voted, I know, I know but the truth is I don't belive a word that comes out of any of there mouths It is frustrating to listen to them. I know it's not any better to stick my head in the sand either but listening to all of them makes me want to bang my head against a wall

Then you should go in the the voting booth and spoil your ballot. Not voting sends no real message at all.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

I voted for one simple reason: if I don't cast my ballot, I don't feel I have the right to complain when I disagree with the decisions my government is making. Its a pet peeve of mine when people are the first to criticize government policies yet won't take five minutes to exercise their right to vote on election day.

 

[PhotobearSam]

Then you should go in the the voting booth and spoil your ballot. Not voting sends no real message at all.

Amybe there should be a movement for people who do not want ANY of the Candidates...Go in and mark NONE OF THE ABOVE or mark all the candidates and that number should be reported as well.

 

[declansdad]

Amybe there should be a movement for people who do not want ANY of the Candidates...Go in and mark NONE OF THE ABOVE or mark all the candidates and that number should be reported as well.

I do beleive the number of spoiled ballots is available. If there was a significant number, I'm sure the media would be all over it.

 

[cpbjgc]

I already vented a bit on not voting on the election thread (looks like I killed that thread, but good). If you listen to CBC Radio One, this morning The Current actually considered voter turnout during the first half hour. I found it to be an interesting discussion where all the viewpoints were expressed.

 

[highland3]

I like to reserve my right to complain

No vote = no complaining!!

Exactly!

 

[SydneyFalco]

I vote, but I understand people who do not. To me the whole "you have no right to complain" thing rings pretty hollow. It is easily conceivable for me to imagine someone who simply CANNOT shape their concerns to fit a modern day ballot in any way, shape, or form. And a protest ballot is pointless because it proposes nothing.

 

[declansdad]

I vote, but I understand people who do not. To me the whole "you have no right to complain" thing rings pretty hollow. It is easily conceivable for me to imagine someone who simply CANNOT shape their concerns to fit a modern day ballot in any way, shape, or form. And a protest ballot is pointless because it proposes nothing.

I disagree, a spoiled ballot is counted and included in the final tally. If there are many spolied ballots, there is a message being sent. If you simply don't exercise your right to vote, it can be chalked up to simple voter apathy or laziness.

If you want a say in how things work, you should exercise your right to vote.

 

[cpbjgc]

I vote, but I understand people who do not. To me the whole "you have no right to complain" thing rings pretty hollow. It is easily conceivable for me to imagine someone who simply CANNOT shape their concerns to fit a modern day ballot in any way, shape, or form. And a protest ballot is pointless because it proposes nothing.

I have to disagree. Instead of repeating myself, here is a different post I made on this topic. If you don't like the way things are being run, you only get once every few years to express your displeasure, either by voting for the party you think matches your beliefs, or spoiling a ballot so that there is a record of your displeasure. You can attend protests or join marches all you like, but unless you vote (which includes depositing a spoiled ballot in the ballot box) things won't change. That is our responsibility as citizens under a parliamentary system.

 

[Thumper_ehhhhh]

Yes I voted as I like to complain about our government. If you don't vote you have no right to complain. Every vote counts.

 

[digskat]

not voting = spoiled ballots

There is no difference, none of the parties are talking about the number of spoiled ballots, only the number they received. The Green Party hasn't stated...there were 10 000 spoiled ballots, we could have won a seat. The press isn't discussing spoiled ballots, merely who received votes (and amounts) and turnout. I have yet to see CBC, CTV.......even written media talk about the number of spoiled ballots. Why?........

As far as spoiled ballots
"The deputy returning officer must reject ballots that were not supplied by him or her, were improperly marked (including those voided by the elector), were cast for a person other than a candidate, or on which there is any writing or mark by which the elector could be identified. After the count, the deputy returning officer fills out a statement of the vote, recording the number of votes in favour of each candidate and the number of rejected ballots."
In other word, it is Conservative, Liberal, NDP, Green, Independent or REJECTED. No shows and spoiled are lumped together......each meaning nothing.

From CTV;
"Spoiling a ballot in privacy is not much of a protest, suggests Elections Canada spokesman Dana Doiron.
'Nobody gets real satisfaction out of it because nobody knows about it,' Doiron said. 'It can't be attributed to the individual because of the secrecy. It just goes unrecorded, unnanounced, unknown. So you've wasted your time going to the poll in the first place.'

You really want to send a message, contact your MP often (overwhelm them), contact the offensive party (they all have websites), or participate in a visible protest.

 

[I Run Long]

I'm sorry but I have to weigh in here. This is from a female perspective so take it for what it is. Women for years were prohibited from voting. Certainly when my grandmother was born it wasn't allowed and that right was only gained first in Manitoba, followed by Alberta and Saskatchewan in 1916. It was finally passed for federal elections in 1920 for women who were 21 years of age. First Nations women did not get that right until 1960s! This right was hard earned where many women were imprisoned and suffered under horrible conditions. Indeed, in other nations women still don't have that right or exercise it at their or their families' peril. So, for our own citizens to never vote, or to never get around to vote just because they are angry or feel like they have no power to affect change should read up on their history. Especially the "Famous Five" including Nellie McLung, Judge Emily Murphy, Irene Parlby, Louise McKinney and Henrietta Muir Edwards. These women and others like them fought hard for our grandmothers and our own right to vote - please don't waste it.

O.K. my rant is over. Thanks for listening.

 

[ferris198]

Yes I voted as I like to complain about our government. If you don't vote you have no right to complain. Every vote counts.

I have voted in every type of election since I have been eligible to vote.
Unfortunately, Tuesday I could not as my Mother had been taken of life support.
Does that mean I can't complain until the next election ?