The right to vote is not universal. Throughout history it has been granted to and withheld from many people. Here in Canada, in 1867 only 16% of Canadians met the requirements for voting. Until 1917 only white males could vote. Today, there are still nations around the world that deny their citizens freedom to vote or freedom to vote without intimidation. Voting is a Canadian citizen’s right.
Why is it that so many Canadians are not exercising their right to vote? There are hundreds of thousands of Canadians who are angry and have valid concerns over issues that affect them on a regular basis. These issues include gas price gouging, the state of the economy, medical care and environmental issues. Yet millions of people refuse to vote. In the last federal election (2006), only 64.7% of the eligible voters casted their ballot to have their voice heard. Worse, are voter turnouts in the provincial and especially municipal elections.
Our politicians, advocacy groups and the media tell us how essential our vote is in having our voice heard. Many Canadians believe that it’s becoming increasingly difficult to find a local political representative that echoes their personal beliefs and shares their concerns. Some Canadians have given up on voting as they feel it doesn’t matter who gets in, promises are broken. Disillusioned Canadians are not making it to the polling stations as they once did. 1958 saw the highest voter turnout since Confederation. Since then, voter turnout has been on a steady decrease.
Election Date.......... Voter Turnout in %
March 31, 1958.......... 79.4
June 18, 1962.......... 79.0
April 8, 1963.......... 79.2
November 8, 1965.......... 74.8
June 25, 1968.......... 75.7
October 30, 1972.......... 76.7
July 8, 1974.......... 71.0
May 22, 1979.......... 75.7
February 18, 1980.......... 69.3
September 4, 1984.......... 75.3
November 21, 1988.......... 75.3
October 25, 1993.......... 69.6
June 2, 1997.......... 67.0
November 27, 2000.......... 61.2
June 28, 2004.......... 60.9
January 23, 2006.......... 64.7
Hundreds of people have crusaded tirelessly for decades to ensure all Canadian citizens can vote. 8,145,912 people did not vote in the last federal election. The women suffragettes campaigned for four decades to get women the vote and yet approximately four million women in 2006 did not exercise the right that was fought so hard for them many years ago.
Have Your Voice Heard
Election day is Tuesday, October 14, 2008. (Advance polling dates are being held on October 3, 4 and 6th, 2008.) Seek out your local political representatives and call them. Ask them point blank what their policies are on the issues that affect you the most. Don’t accept flowery responses, demand solid answers in terms you understand. Vote for the party that best represents your values and concerns. If that party wins in your riding, then ensure the elected representative follows through with their promises.
Get on the Voters List
No matter how disillusioned you feel you can make a change. If you are not on the voters list you can register with Elections Canada.
If you are interested in the history of how Canadian women got the right to vote, Women’s Voting Rights Movement tells the tale of how it took forty years of advocating to get the vote.
