Skip to content

The importance of voting

Editor: I have always voted.

Editor:

I have always voted. Since I was a small child, my father — a veteran of the Second World War — reminded me time and again that he fought a war for freedom and democracy, and that the least I could do in exchange for his service was express my opinion about the people who, by running for public office, were willing to serve as my political representatives.

My belief in the importance of voting, which I see as a sign of respect and admiration for our Canadian democracy, is compounded every time I travel to less fortunate parts of the world, which I do on a regular basis.

This year, I will not be able to vote in the upcoming Sunshine Coast elections. Instead, I will be travelling to Europe and Asia in my job as a records management professional, which involves helping governments and organizations around the world establish accountable information systems, thereby, one hopes, improving efficiency and encouraging democracy.

I am truly disappointed that I won’t have the chance to cast my vote this year, particularly given the recent tragic deaths of soldiers in Quebec and Ontario, men who, like my father, stood ready to fight for freedom and democracy.

In my stead, I sincerely urge everyone on the Coast to vote. I don’t care who you vote for. Every person who runs for public office does so out of an abundance of dedication to their community. The only difference between candidates is their political perspective, not their sense of public service.

My father fought so I could vote. Since I can’t vote this year, I ask you to do so in my place. For my sake, for your sake, and for the sake of democracy. We have the freedom to do so. Many don’t.

Laura Arnold, Roberts Creek