Who(that can) isn't going to vote on Oct 14th?

[HOOT]

I know there is a huge thread on the the Election, however I think this will just get lost in there. I am curious who plans on not voting on Oct 14th and why not?

Personally I have not voted since the first time that I could. And I only made that vote because my mom made me, and I just voted for who she told me to

I don't whine about how the country/province/city/municipality is run so I figure I can get away with it. However some family/friends are encouraging me to vote and making me feel like I am the only one who is not going to vote on Tuesday.

I just feel like no matter who I vote for I am going to get screwed in some aspect of my life and 99% of the time the politicians are lying about their changes anyways so how can I vote on that.

After seeing all those "slam ads" on CBC/Sportsnet it made me want to vote even less. I don't give a rats about what that other guy isn't going to do, I would want to know what you are going to do.

[MarchHare]

I've voted in every federal and provincial election since I was of legal age (I've never voted in a municipal election though). I'm seriously considering abstaining (NOT the same thing as voter apathy) from this election.

I'm a card-carrying member of the Liberal Party, but I didn't support Dion for the leadership and I don't think he'd be an effective PM. I don't want to support him in this election because I think if the Liberals lose 10-15 seats, it will prompt a leadership review and hopefully a better leader will be selected this time. So that rules the Liberals out.

Then there's the NDP, who I genereally support on social issues but whose economic polices I strongly disagree with. If the NDP ever won a majority (gods help us!), they'd bankrupt the nation with their drunken sailor-esque spending while simultaneously crushing our economy and killing businesses by applying punitive corporate taxes. So that rules the the NDP out.

Then we have the Conservatives. As stewards of the budget and the economy, they've done well enough (the Halloween Surprise and carte blanche cheques to parents notwithstanding), and the more radical social conservative element of the party has been held in check because they're in a minority government situation. Regardless of what anyone says to the contrary, though, I simply don't trust the CPC on social issues if they were given the free reign of a majority government. There's still too many far-right religious conservatives in the party, and Harper has often said he wants more private members' bills and free votes in Parliament, effectively giving those radical elements more power. So that rules the Conservatives out.

Ultimately, I live in a Calgary riding that is going to be easily won by the Conservative candidate (Lee Richardson) regardless of how I cast my vote, but that never deterred me in the past from exercising my fundamental democratic right. This election, however, has left me completely unmotivated. It's not even a matter of choosing the lesser evil -- every party this time around is poor choice, each for a different reason. My ideal outcome would be another Conservative minority, with Harper's party winning about the same number of seats he has now. The Liberals would lose 10-15 seats to a combination of the Bloc, NDP, and Greens, Dion would be ousted, and we get much of the same style of government for the next two years by which time the Liberals have selected a more capable leader.

Ah, a man can dream...

[CaptainCrunch]

Don't the polls open at 10 am?

Plus your work place has to give you time to vote, leave early, it usually takes me 48 hours to vote.

[MarchHare]

http://www.elections.ca/content.asp?...false#voting26

All employees who are qualified electors, that is, those who are 18 years of age or older and Canadian citizens on polling day, are entitled to three consecutive hours on polling day for the purpose of casting their ballots. If an employee’s hours of work do not allow him or her three consecutive hours to vote, the employer must allow him or her sufficient time off to allow three consecutive hours for that purpose.

For example, if an employee lives in an electoral district in which the hours for voting are 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., and the employee’s hours of work are 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., the employee’s hours of work will not allow three consecutive hours for voting. The employer might allow the employee to arrive late (at 12:30 p.m.), to leave early (at 6:30 p.m.), or provide the employee three hours off at some other point during the work day in order to allow the employee the opportunity to exercise the right to vote.

As another example, if the employee lives in an electoral district in which voting hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., and the employee’s hours of work are between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., the employer is not required to provide the employee time off for the purpose of voting, because the employee will already have available three and a half consecutive hours for voting (from 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.).

[Tyler]

Voting in my area Calgary SE is almost pointless. Kenney will of course destroy everyone and win by a massive landslide against a bunch of incompetent novices.

Haven't decided if its worth making the trek.

[worth]

I have voted in everything that I could have voted in be it on the federal, provincial or municipal level. actually i declined to vote for school board trustee because i knew nothing about them. the lady said to me "there's only one person running for the position" and i said "that doesn't mean they automatically get my vote"

I will vote in this federal election, however I will not vote for any of the main parties. ie. conservative, liberal, ndp, green.

[J pold]

Fools! That’s who.

I used to be filled with a lot of voter apathy before I was 18 and would openly admit that I had no interest in voting. Until one day my Grandpa pulled me aside and told me that if you don’t think your vote matters or that it doesn’t make a difference fine. But people through history have fought, sacrificed, and died for the right that you are shamelessly passing up. There are people all over the world that don’t have the fundamental freedom of choice and they would give a lot to be in the position that you are in.

It was a pretty big kick in the ass. I have voted in every election since I turned 18.

[Swarly]

Originally Posted by worth

I have voted in everything that I could have voted in be it on the federal, provincial or municipal level. actually i declined to vote for school board trustee because i knew nothing about them. the lady said to me "there's only one person running for the position" and i said "that doesn't mean they automatically get my vote"

I will vote in this federal election, however I will not vote for any of the main parties. ie. conservative, liberal, ndp, green.

I dont think green counts as a main party.

[First Lady]

Originally Posted by fotze

I have tickets to a box to the flames game that night and likely won't be going home, how early can you vote on tuesday.

7:30 AM to 7:30 PM

This is for Alberta.

[surferguy]

Please vote.... I can t stress this enough. If you feel that there are no proper candidates then spoil your card and write that on it. If enough people did this, other than being lazy and not going, then it woul dbe enough to spark some changes to the system. Please vote and vote for your OWN reasons...never ever vote because somebody told you too.

[HOOT]

Originally Posted by J pold

Fools! That’s who.

I used to be filled with a lot of voter apathy before I was 18 and would openly admit that I had no interest in voting. Until one day my Grandpa pulled me aside and told me that if you don’t think your vote matters or that it doesn’t make a difference fine. But people through history have fought, sacrificed, and died for the right that you are shamelessly passing up. There are people all over the world that don’t have the fundamental freedom of choice and they would give a lot to be in the position that you are in.

It was a pretty big kick in the ass. I have voted in every election since I turned 18.

And my choice is not to vote.

[octothorp]

I'm not voting here to pick a government or leader or opposition or even a local representative, all of which my vote will be unable to impact; all my vote will do is be a tiny, insignificant drop in the general vote totals, which are in turn insignificant to anything beyond public perceptions. So that does give me a bit of a "what's the point" attitude, especially when combined with the fact that there are no parties who's platforms and leaders I like. You know, it should be easier to figure out who to vote for when you know your vote doesn't matter, but in the end it's actually much more difficult.

In the end, I think that Canada is best served by a continued conservative minority, but that alberta is best served by having some appearance of political diversity, so to that end I'll add my meaningless drop in the bucket to the NDP, which also gives me the slight satisfaction of supporting the most hard-working, proactive candidate in my riding.

[First Lady]

Originally Posted by MarchHare

...and the more radical social conservative element of the party has been held in check because they're in a minority government situation. Regardless of what anyone says to the contrary, though, I simply don't trust the CPC on social issues if they were given the free reign of a majority government. There's still too many far-right religious conservatives in the party, and Harper has often said he wants more private members' bills and free votes in Parliament, effectively giving those radical elements more power. So that rules the Conservatives out.

I chuckle when I read stuff like this.... the "far-right religious conservatives" bash Harper for the same thing.

One example:
http://www.freedominion.com.pa/phpBB...77a4aeb085b47a

[HOOT]

Originally Posted by surferguy

Please vote.... I can t stress this enough. If you feel that there are no proper candidates then spoil your card and write that on it. If enough people did this, other than being lazy and not going, then it woul dbe enough to spark some changes to the system. Please vote and vote for your OWN reasons...never ever vote because somebody told you too.

Where can someone find a web page that list the different parties and what they stand for? Preferably not one run by someone who is trying to push a certain party on me.

[llama64]

What's the point in defending democracy if you're too lazy to participate in it?

I vote in every election. It's the ONLY time that an elected official pays attention to the citizens they claim to represent.

I'm probably voting Green. The reason being, it will mean more then simply abstaining. The Greens probably will not win a seat, but the popular vote will be analyzed by the media. If the main parties see their support eroding and going towards a competitor, perhaps this will open their minds to just how many people are dissatisfied with the level of representation we receive.

I personally can't stand how the Conservatives treat the Western regions. Almost no attention is delivered on us while the representatives are off in Ottawa trying to help their fellow party members. Voting Green seems to be the only way I can send a message to them that this is not good behavior. They should not expect us to vote them in no matter what.

[J pold]

Originally Posted by HOOT

And my choice is not to vote.

I just find it highly ironic that in one thread you complain about the Canadian justice system. Then you start a thread about not wanting to vote. If you really are concern about the justice system why not you know do something about it?

If you don't vote you don't have the right to complain about these issue IMO.

Originally Posted by HOOT

What this guy did is disgusting, however I think what the justice system just did is even more disgusting. This guy should spend the rest of his life in max. prison with a sign on his back saying "I Molested My Daughter". Let's just say he would have a good idea of how his daughter felt pretty quickly!

Originally Posted by HOOT

I know there is a huge thread on the the Election, however I think this will just get lost in there. I am curious who plans on not voting on Oct 14th and why not?

Personally I have not voted since the first time that I could. And I only made that vote because my mom made me, and I just voted for who she told me to

I don't whine about how the country/province/city/municipality is run so I figure I can get away with it. However some family/friends are encouraging me to vote and making me feel like I am the only one who is not going to vote on Tuesday.

I just feel like no matter who I vote for I am going to get screwed in some aspect of my life and 99% of the time the politicians are lying about their changes anyways so how can I vote on that.

After seeing all those "slam ads" on CBC/Sportsnet it made me want to vote even less. I don't give a rats about what that other guy isn't going to do, I would want to know what you are going to do.

Quite the contradiction.

[FlamesAddiction]

I probably won't. I'll be out of town between now and then, and in particular, I will be on the road all day on Tuesday.

I suppose I could have tried to do a pre-voting thing if that's allowed, but I have just been too busy.

I don't have any really strong feelings for anyone in this election anyway.

[MarchHare]

Originally Posted by J pold

Fools! That’s who.

I used to be filled with a lot of voter apathy before I was 18 and would openly admit that I had no interest in voting. Until one day my Grandpa pulled me aside and told me that if you don’t think your vote matters or that it doesn’t make a difference fine. But people through history have fought, sacrificed, and died for the right that you are shamelessly passing up. There are people all over the world that don’t have the fundamental freedom of choice and they would give a lot to be in the position that you are in.

It was a pretty big kick in the ass. I have voted in every election since I turned 18.

People have fought wars over the right for the population to vote, not that it be a mandatory requirement of citizenship. If I make an informed decision to abstain (which, again, is absolutely not the same thing as voter apathy), that's my right as a Canadian citizen. Frankly, I think it's better for an informed voter to abstain than it is for an ill-informed voter to blindly cast their ballot just because "it's their democratic duty".

[Barnes]

I am voting for all the candidates in my riding.

[Lithium]

Unless we can text in our vote via mobile phone like Big Brother, then I won't be voting.