They are fighting overseas for Democracy, but are denied the right to vote.

[puckluck]

http://www.calgarysun.com/news/colum.../15543551.html

They're supplied with the bullets and rifles to defend democracy, but not the ballots to take part in elections back home.

If anyone should be marking an 'X' on Oct.18, it's the hundreds of Alberta soldiers serving in Afghanistan, risking snipers and

bombs to establish democracy for citizens of a former dictatorship.

People in that war-torn country can cast ballots because Canadian soldiers are there to protect their fragile democracy. But

somehow, those wearing the Maple Leaf have no such privilege.

Alberta, with two weeks to go before voting day, has failed to offer municipal ballot provisions for soldiers serving around

Kandahar and Kabul.

Simply put, Alberta's troops can't vote.

Seriously, how dumb can the government get? They surprise me more and more every day.

[Drury18]

Is possible that they just are ineligable to vote?

As per the guidelines, you must live in Alberta the proceeding 6 months to be able to vote. I'm not exactly sure how the exemptions work for military (I have a call in to a friend who is ex-Canadian Army) but if its cut and dry as it seems, they would be ineligable to vote.

Q. Who is eligible to vote in a civic election?
A. The eligibility requirements are very straight-forward: you must be at least 18 years old, a Canadian citizen, a resident of Calgary, and have resided in Alberta for at least six consecutive months immediately preceeding election day.

[MarchHare]

I also read a story earlier this week that 55 soldiers from CFB Gagetown currently serving in Afghanistan were unable to vote in Monday's NB provincial election because of an error shipping the absentee ballots.

According to the article, oversea Forces personnel must be given the opportunity to cast a ballot in federal elections, but provincial and municipal votes are seen more as a "nice to have".

Gagetown Public Affairs officer Lt. (Navy) Alain Blondin said Task Force Kandahar personnel who were eligible to vote in the Sept. 27 provincial election were unable to do so due to an error in the shipment of the voting ballots.

In total, 55 registered personnel deployed with Task Force Kandahar were affected, he said.

"As a result of the shipping irregularity, the ballots were not received and returned in time for the election count," Blondin said. "After the shipping error was discovered, the current Task Force determined that there were no means available to expedite the delivery, completion and return of the ballots by the Sept. 27, 2010, deadline."

While not mandated to do so, Task Force Kandahar works to ensure that those personnel who wish to participate elections at both the municipal and provincial level are afforded the opportunity, Blondin said.

Task Force Kandahar is mandated to provide all personnel with the opportunity to vote during federal elections.

Emphasis added.

http://dailygleaner.canadaeast.com/c...rticle/1239658

[Sliver]

I don't see this as a big deal.

[TurnedTheCorner]

Exactly. Pretty statistically insignificant in a pretty meaningless election at a pretty useless level of government.

[csnarpy]

who cares if it's insignificant. You have the right to vote.

I was posted in Germany for 3 years and voted Federally and Provincially while i was there.

If a candidate wins by less than 50 votes. I'd be pissed that I didn't get mine in.

[Barnes]

When you are serving the military, are you not essentially giving up your rights to a lot of things civilians are afforded?

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Barnes

When you are serving the military, are you not essentially giving up your rights to a lot of things civilians are afforded?

Like what?

[Barnes]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Like what?

I don't know, I was asking. All i know (or at least think) is that by joining the armed forces there are additional responsibilities you take on under military law. Certain things in civil law must contradict military law were the later takes precedence??.......

Maybe it's a US thing... I know that in the US, it is illegal for a commissioned officer to bad mouth the President.

[VladtheImpaler]

We're talking about a civic election! A civic election!

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Barnes

I don't know, I was asking. All i know (or at least think) is that by joining the armed forces there are additional responsibilities you take on under military law. Certain things in civil law must contradict military law were the later takes precedence??.......

Maybe it's a US thing... I know that in the US, it is illegal for a commissioned officer to bad mouth the President.

Sure, but I never noticed a loss of my basic freedoms when I was in. And to me the President is at the top of the command chain, bad mouthing him would be no different from you bad mouthing the CEO of the company you work for, it would probably get you fired.

[Sliver]

The soldiers have the right to vote - nobody has taken that away. They chose to take a job that requires them to work out of town a fair amount and as such, they'll tend to miss a few things while they're gone. BFD

[TurnedTheCorner]

Originally Posted by csnarpy

who cares if it's insignificant. You have the right to vote.

I was posted in Germany for 3 years and voted Federally and Provincially while i was there.

If a candidate wins by less than 50 votes. I'd be pissed that I didn't get mine in.

Who did you vote for in your ward for Alderman and School Trustee? Oh, you didn't? That's...kind of the point.

[Addick]

Originally Posted by TurnedTheCorner

Exactly. Pretty statistically insignificant in a pretty meaningless election at a pretty useless level of government.

Although I don't have a problem with them not being allowed to vote as they are ineligible voters, I strongly disagree with your statement. Municipal government has, by far, the strongest impact on a person's day-to-day life.

[afc wimbledon]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Like what?

Well they give up the right not to be shot at in some dusty craphole by some inbred goat shagging idiot.

They also give up the right to expect half decent kit to keep them alive while they are being shot at.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by afc wimbledon

Well they give up the right not to be shot at in some dusty craphole by some inbred goat shagging idiot.

They also give up the right to expect half decent kit to keep them alive while they are being shot at.

You know, the whole time that I was in, I never thought about it like that. But if I did, then chances are those thoughts would become reality.

We learned to make due.

[csnarpy]

Originally Posted by TurnedTheCorner

Who did you vote for in your ward for Alderman and School Trustee? Oh, you didn't? That's...kind of the point.

Sorry, no election happened for the town of Canmore while i was there. But my point still stands. All military members have the right to vote. I certainly don't care if they do or not but it's their option.

[GirlySports]

So military is no different then any other job in this case, if any of us had worked outside of Calgary for 6 months no matter what job it was then we wouldn't be allowed to vote either.

Should an exception be made?

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

So military is no different then any other job in this case, if any of us had worked outside of Calgary for 6 months no matter what job it was then we wouldn't be allowed to vote either.

Should an exception be made?

Considering what these people risk for us, yeah, maybe we should take a little extra care.

[Weiser Wonder]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

So military is no different then any other job in this case, if any of us had worked outside of Calgary for 6 months no matter what job it was then we wouldn't be allowed to vote either.

Should an exception be made?

Nah. **** em.