Do you choose not to vote even though you are elligible?

[taco.vidal]

Anyone here who won't vote on Monday (or hasn't already) care to share why they have decided not to vote?

[sworkhard]

It's too bad we can't reject our ballot's in federal elections like we can in provincial ones.

[Muta]

Even if there were no candidates you support, you should still vote because a) one of those candidates you don't like will still end up winning, so your vote still counts, and b) people all over the world would die to have the right to vote as citizen in Canada. We should be so lucky to have the option to do it. We're one of the few.

[GirlySports]

but that's the beauty, we have the right to vote and the right not to vote.

[Dion]

If you don't vote then you lose the right to complain when the govt does something you don't like.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Muta

Even if there were no candidates you support, you should still vote because a) one of those candidates you don't like will still end up winning, so your vote still counts, and b) people all over the world would die to have the right to vote as citizen in Canada. We should be so lucky to have the option to do it. We're one of the few.

Only citizens who have made at least an attempt to inform themselves should vote. I hate the idea that everyone should vote because people in other countries don't have the amazing right that we do.

An uninformed vote based on the idea that everyone should vote is worse than a non-vote.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Dion

If you don't vote then you lose the right to complain when the govt does something you don't like.

To be fair, under Harper the whole country lost the right to complain when he did something we didn't like.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

but that's the beauty, we have the right to vote and the right not to vote.

As long as you also abstain from sharing your opinion on anything related in any way to governance, I'm good with anyone exercising their right to not vote.
Your vote is your ticket to complain.

Edit: Dion beat me to it

[FlamesAddiction]

In a free democracy, people always have the right to complain whether they choose to vote or not. You can't tell me that if I abstained that I would have less right to complain or that my complaints would be less worthy to be heard than if I voted for some throw-away candidate or an obscure protest party.

I will be voting in this next election because I have gotten back into it, but there have been elections in the past where I was undecided and felt the abstaining and letting more engaged people decide the results was the best choice.

[GGG]

I think an important thing is that even in Alberta where most of the tidings your vote won't make a difference in this election that you still vote if you want an alternative.

If our ridings look competing more government money spent in Alberta to buy votes would be if we remain non competitive. Also if our ridings look competitive we will garner more influence in platforms and better candidates will run.

So even if you are stuck in harpers riding it's worth it to go out and vote

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

In a free democracy, people always have the right to complain whether they choose to vote or not. You can't tell me that if I abstained that I would have less right to complain or that my complaints would be less worthy to be heard than if I voted for some throw-away candidate or an obscure protest party.

I will be voting in this next election because I have gotten back into it, but there have been elections in the past where I was undecided and felt the abstaining and letting more engaged people decide the results was the best choice.

Yes, I can tell you that. It's my right in a free democracy.
Your complaints have zero worth if you do not vote.

[Finger Cookin]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

Yes, I can tell you that. It's my right in a free democracy.
Your complaints have zero worth if you do not vote.

No, yours do!!!

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

Yes, I can tell you that. It's my right in a free democracy.
Your complaints have zero worth if you do not vote.

I partially disagree. If you don't vote because you didn't bother to inform yourself and just straight up didn't involve yourself in the election then I agree you have no right to complain.

If you didn't vote because you did your research, were prepared to vote and then couldn't find a party/candidate that even remotely represented your views/needs, such as the last provincial election for me, then you still have a right to complain, imo.

[Timbo]

Of all the votes the non vote is the most misguided. It does nothing. It says nothing. Apathy is never good IMO but if that is your stance... its voting that gave you the right to not vote.

[GGG]

I wonder what would happen if there was a none of the above box. If that box won a majority new candidates would be required.

One problem with the current system is there is no option to document that none of the choices are good enough.

[GGG]

I don't like the don't complain if you don't vote. Your right to complain is protected.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by GGG

I don't like the don't complain if you don't vote. Your right to complain is protected.

Will anybody listen if they know you didn't vote?

[Drak]

What are people's thoughts on mandatory voting, such as Australia - don't vote and pay a fine. Just curious.

[Swarly]

Originally Posted by Drak

What are people's thoughts on mandatory voting, such as Australia - don't vote and pay a fine. Just curious.

its a horrible system, get people throwing a vote for any random candidate just to avoid a fine rather than people who have actually followed the race and made an informed decision.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by Dion

Will anybody listen if they know you didn't vote?

Does anyone listen to you if you do vote.