Federal Election Called for Oct 19, 2015

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by JohnnyB

That's very saddening to hear. My entire adult life I have never had a vote in a riding that was contentious in any way. The polling is about 97% for one party and has been that way forever. It really makes it feel like voting is a total waste of time and I would really like for proportional representation to happen.

What's more saddening is that some people think their vote doesn't count, for some reason, regardless the electoral system or riding.

[JohnnyB]

I wonder how much the current electoral system impacts voter turnout. There must be many more Canadians who have found themselves in the same situation. I imagine plenty of them would also be people who aren't dedicated voters and see the fact that they're in a riding with no contention as enough reason to not show up, even in a pretty passionate election like this one.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by rubecube

They also talked about electoral reform and PR. One prof quipped that it's very hard for a party whose just won an election in one system to want to switch to another system.

Yeah, no political party is ever in favor of changing to a system other then the one that gives them the best advantage, and considering the government has always been elected with the current system no political party ever has an incentive to actually change it once they're in. Which is super annoying because FPTP is probably the worst system one could have ina multi-party system.

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by JohnnyB

I wonder how much the current electoral system impacts voter turnout. There must be many more Canadians who have found themselves in the same situation. I imagine plenty of them would also be people who aren't dedicated voters and see the fact that they're in a riding with no contention as enough reason to not show up, even in a pretty passionate election like this one.

I've never voted before, and knowing my vote doesn't matter because I'm in a solid blue riding is a big reason why. Didn't have a chance to do any of the early voting, I still want to vote on Monday though, but if the wait time looks too long I'll probably just say screw it

[surferguy]

Originally Posted by Hemi-Cuda

I've never voted before, and knowing my vote doesn't matter because I'm in a solid blue riding is a big reason why. Didn't have a chance to do any of the early voting, I still want to vote on Monday though, but if the wait time looks too long I'll probably just say screw it

If you want to vote then vote. No excuses. It is your duty to do this and throwing away that opportunity away is down right stupid. Grow up and do your job.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Hemi-Cuda

I've never voted before, and knowing my vote doesn't matter because I'm in a solid blue riding is a big reason why. Didn't have a chance to do any of the early voting, I still want to vote on Monday though, but if the wait time looks too long I'll probably just say screw it

The long lines are probably overstated for the most part. If you can get away at some time other than the "peak time" in the evening it takes very little time. I think I have almost never waited in any line to vote actually. Polls open at 7:30am though, so if you can roll in first thing in the morning I bet you could be in and out in 5 minutes.

[Looch City]

Every one should vote, regardless of how much it will/won't matter. It ridiculous that the voter turnout isn't atleast 80%.

It's your duty just as much as paying taxes is.

[John Doe]

I get the part about knowing that your vote doesn't matter. Anyone who lives in a rural Alberta riding and doesn't vote Conservative goes into the voting booth knowing that your vote will not be the one that gets your candidate elected.

Before the changes to election financing at least your vote got a small subsidy sent to the party of your choice each year. Now, your vote doesn't even do that. All that your vote does now is potentially affect the ability of the person you voted for to get a rebate back on election expenditures.

[CaptainCrunch]

In my mind, your vote always counts no matter what the situation is, at least your allowing yourself to be heard no matter what party or platform you support.

even if you're in a riding that's going to be a full on slaughter so to speak, a least you're effecting some change by voting for a candidate that you support that might not have a chance in this election.

[Slava]

^ as a guy who has run and lost I would also say that the candidates genuinely appreciate those votes as well!

[John Doe]

Originally Posted by Iggy City

Every one should vote, regardless of how much it will/won't matter. It ridiculous that the voter turnout isn't atleast 80%.

It's your duty just as much as paying taxes is.

I am not sure how I feel about this. I partially agree, but I think that in order for this to be true your vote needs to be "informed". If you are just going into the voting booth and arbitrarily picking someone you are not helping. Of course, this brings up the question of what an "informed" vote is, and who has been doing the "informing". I think that everyone should vote but if you don't know anything about the candidates or platforms perhaps you have a duty to not vote.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by John Doe

I get the part about knowing that your vote doesn't matter. Anyone who lives in a rural Alberta riding and doesn't vote Conservative goes into the voting booth knowing that your vote will not be the one that gets your candidate elected.

Before the changes to election financing at least your vote got a small subsidy sent to the party of your choice each year. Now, your vote doesn't even do that. All that your vote does now is potentially affect the ability of the person you voted for to get a rebate back on election expenditures.

I always thought it was silly the party essentially got money for each vote they got. Glad that was done away with.

[FlamesAddiction]

I'm fine with people not voting if they are not engaged in the issues.

A 60% voter turn out is fine and probably represents the people who actually care about more than just signs and attack ads.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by John Doe

I am not sure how I feel about this. I partially agree, but I think that in order for this to be true your vote needs to be "informed". If you are just going into the voting booth and arbitrarily picking someone you are not helping. Of course, this brings up the question of what an "informed" vote is, and who has been doing the "informing". I think that everyone should vote but if you don't know anything about the candidates or platforms perhaps you have a duty to not vote.

Agree.

If you don't know what the hell you are doing when it comes to taxes, sometimes it's better to let someone else do it for you.

If you don't know what the hell you are doing when it comes to voting, perhaps not voting might be the better option instead of voting for the guy with nice hair, or the guy with no mustache since you think mustaches are "creepy".

There's no perfect democratic system, but by golly the idea of "Canada" has worked for 148 straight years so they are doing something correct. If you have an opinion on an issue, then vote. At the absolute very least, you are making your voice heard. At best, you change the government.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by John Doe

I get the part about knowing that your vote doesn't matter. Anyone who lives in a rural Alberta riding and doesn't vote Conservative goes into the voting booth knowing that your vote will not be the one that gets your candidate elected.

Before the changes to election financing at least your vote got a small subsidy sent to the party of your choice each year. Now, your vote doesn't even do that. All that your vote does now is potentially affect the ability of the person you voted for to get a rebate back on election expenditures.

Bah.
It's still a voice though - and a particularly important voice if it's the minority voice. I have little respect for any adult in our country who is chooses not to vote. As surferguy said, grow up and do your job.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

Agree.

If you don't know what the hell you are doing when it comes to taxes, sometimes it's better to let someone else do it for you.

If you don't know what the hell you are doing when it comes to voting, perhaps not voting might be the better option instead of voting for the guy with nice hair, or the guy with no mustache since you think mustaches are "creepy".

There's no perfect democratic system, but by golly the idea of "Canada" has worked for 148 straight years so they are doing something correct. If you have an opinion on an issue, then vote. At the absolute very least, you are making your voice heard. At best, you change the government.

The LPC candidate in my riding is super hot. Is it ok if I vote for her for that reason?

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

Bah.
It's still a voice though - and a particularly important voice if it's the minority voice. I have little respect for any adult in our country who is chooses not to vote. As surferguy said, grow up and do your job.

Please, if it was my job to vote then it should be mandatory like filling out the census. As long as we have the option to not vote in elections, then I'm excising my rights as a Canadian just as much as those who do vote

[Coach]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

The LPC candidate in my riding is super hot. Is it ok if I vote for her for that reason?

Hmm a difficult dilemma. Do you have a shot? Then it's probably OK.

Unrelated: what riding are you in?...

Originally Posted by John Doe

I get the part about knowing that your vote doesn't matter. Anyone who lives in a rural Alberta riding and doesn't vote Conservative goes into the voting booth knowing that your vote will not be the one that gets your candidate elected.

Before the changes to election financing at least your vote got a small subsidy sent to the party of your choice each year. Now, your vote doesn't even do that. All that your vote does now is potentially affect the ability of the person you voted for to get a rebate back on election expenditures.

I can understand the sentiment, but if you do have a preference, then I think it's important to vote just to have that information (how many people are voting and for who).

However, if you truly don't know or (more sad) don't care, then abstaining is probably be best.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by MattyC

Hmm a difficult dilemma. Do you have a shot? Then it's probably OK.

Unrelated: what riding are you in?...

Haha - I have no shot.

Neither does she, on Monday. Montreal Outremount (Mulcair's riding).
(And super cute may have been a more apt description - she is wonderful in person - brilliant, sharp, personable)

[John Doe]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

I always thought it was silly the party essentially got money for each vote they got. Glad that was done away with.

At least you had some say in who got the money. Now you are paying just as much money as you were with the vote subsidy but you have no say in who gets the money.