The lowest voter turnout since confederation - did I really just read that?
Scrolling through my Twitter feed last week, a tweet came up from a magazine I follow that said the last Canadian federal election had the lowest turnout since confederation. While I knew the last election did have a low turnout, I couldn't help but be taken aback by the words "since confederation."
A quick Google search ensued, due to forgetting most of what I learned in Grade 9 social studies, and I was reminded confederation took place in 1867, marking 2008 withthe lowest voter turnout in just over 140 years. Although not shocked, I couldn't help but find it surprising.
A few minutes later, another tweet popped up, this time with a link to an article on the recent Nigerian elections. I clicked the link, and was taken to a slideshow of disturbing images. People protested after allegations of a rigged election, resulting in acts of terrible violence caught on camera. Nigeria has long been known for being one of the mostpolitically corrupt countries in the world, but observers called the recent election the fairest in decades. Tragically, even their "fair" election managed to cause unrest.
Canada has been touted as having an extremely well-organized and fair voting process, yet we can't get enough people out to vote. There are numerous countries whose citizens risk persecution just to be able to cast a ballot, but we can exercise our right to vote freely and safely, a fact many Canadians seem to take for granted.
While numbers tend to show youth voters having the lowest turnout,voters of all age groups can, and do, falter at getting themselves to the polls.
I recently spoke to some friends, whose ages ranged from early to late 30s, about the impending election. Much to my surprise, many of them said they had not voted in the last election and had only voted once or twice in their lifetimes, if ever.
I asked why, plainly out of curiosity, and was given responses like, "I don't think my vote counts," and "an uneducated ballot is worse than no ballot." One friend bluntly said she was just too tired from work to walk to the polling station during the last federal election.
I appreciated their honesty, and could definitely relate. Many times I have felt my vote wouldn't really count, and yes, I will admit, there were times I was too tired to go to the polling station. In the end, I always managed to somehow get myself to the polls.
While I would never chastise my friends for not voting, it does leave me slightly disappointed and wondering what factors could motive a citizen, of any age, to vote.
This election has certainly seen people ask that same question. There have been some great media campaigns of both funny and serious natures. One comedic campaign in particular went viral within hours of being posted on-line. Aside from the jokes, the successful and popular campaign started conversations -conversations that will hopefully inspire people to get to the polls.
I checked my Twitter feed again this morning and saw a tweet stating Elections Canada is reporting a 35 per cent jump in the number of Canadians taking part in early voting. Something must be working. If more comedy is needed to remind us of the importance of voting, I will tell jokes all the way to the polling station.
