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We are constantly being told that the dismal representation of “young people” at polls in recent elections displays a political apathy that threatens the nation. What utter bullshit.
From where I sit, the level of political awareness and engagement of youth in Canada and the First Nations of Turtle Island is unprecedented. Low voter turn-out is not an indication of how much we care. We are simply political in ways that fundamentally reject the notion that casting a vote is the only way to make change.
But voting remains essential, and I am inspired by the commitment I perceive from so many of my peers this election season.
I’ve spoken to a lot of people who don’t vote because they are critical of some aspect of the state: they don’t believe in or feel represented by Canada’s system of governance, they reject some of the government’s core policies, and they are uninspired by our ancient and unrepresentative first-past-the-post setup. These concerns are exceedingly valid, but they are not addressed by not voting.
Refusing to vote is not an effective way to criticize Canada.
I have a toolbox of tactics I use to respond to the actions of my state. My vote is the most generalized and straightforward tool I have to work with.
Voting can not be the only way we work to make change because voting is too generalized a tactic to fundamentally shift the system. Likewise, not voting is too unclear of an action to communicate frustration with the system. Effective criticism requires more specialized tools that communicate clearer messages.
While my vote is just one of my tools, there are a few things that make it unique and important.
Acquiring it didn’t take any training or expensive education or particular life history.
Scores of people sacrificed their comfort and often their lives over centuries to give me my vote. For this reason, I see my vote as precious and I wield it with pride.
Unlike so many of the unjustly distributed resources in our society, I share my vote with every other Canadian citizen. Of course, the ways we regulate citizenship in Canada are increasingly up for scrutiny. And the accessibility of voting is increasingly limited. For me, that underscores how much of a privilege citizenship is in our global context and how critical it is for those of us who are able to exercise our vote to do so in a way that seeks to uphold justice.
Most of the tools I use to make change are highly specialized—they help me respond to specific issues in targeted ways. My vote is the blunt instrument I use to try to hammer out the setting I need to make my other work more impactful.
Casting a vote in Canada can be infuriating. Candidates can feel impossibly distanced from issues that mater most to so many of us. And so many votes don’t even count—spoiled ballots are discarded, rather than being counted as willful dissent, while our electoral framework means that few voters actually get to elect a representative.
This state of affairs can only be changed by combining passionate advocacy with vigorous voting. Voter abstention helps to sustain the circumstances that disillusion and disempower us.
So if you haven’t already done so, please join me in casting a vote this coming Monday, October 19th. And then we can get on with squashing the status quo with all of the fierce and visionary work we already do.
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This article appears in Oct 8-14, 2015.
I find it hard to become motivated to vote when I am living in a riding which has always voted for a certain party. Looking at the polls and seeing that this same party is on track to win yet again, by a large margin, it is clear my vote means nothing in the grand scheme, whether I’m voting for or against this party. I guess this is more a complaint on the electoral system, but I have yet to be convinced to go and vote.
I just don’t buy what you’re saying that this will really “show em what we’re made of”
Were you polled? Were you asked who you were planning to vote for? The only poll that really counts is ballots in the box. No one different will ever have a chance if people discount them before they even cast a vote.
Also, whomever gets the most votes, wins the seat. It could be by 5000 votes, it could be by 5. In many areas, where there are 4 candidates running, the numbers may be closer than you think. By not voting you give the people that do more power in their vote.
Our system does suck. There is no doubt about it, but it is what we have at the moment and it only works if everyone participates.
Take a chance, mark your ballot and see what happens. The most it will cost you is a few minutes of your time.
Most of the ridings in Alberta voted the same way for over 40 years but that changed because people got off their couches and voted. Polls don’t elect governments, people do, but you have to do it…not just talk about it.
NOPE: THIS election is crucial to Canada’s future. We must take away Harper’s majority. Once we do the next step is to change our archaic electoral system to one which is more fair. This won’t happen under a Conservative government. On October 19, vote together, vote strategically for the candidate from ANY party who has the best chance to defeat the Conservative. Vote for change. Many voters are in ridings where they have recognized that there is little chance of change in this election and have been working hard in ridings where change CAN happen. Leadnow.ca has a cross country strategic voting campaign and has had opportunities for volunteers from any riding to be part of phone banking into key swing ridings. Choosing to sit back and complain is a cop-out! http://www.votetogether.ca
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igbBItLemsM
Sorry, but voting is an act of confidence in a system that does not work and can never work. Basically, I refuse to legitimize that which is unjust. I refuse to trust in lies. I refuse to support those who would betray us. I refuse to empower those who have disempowered us. I refuse to enrich those who have taken our wealth. I refuse to be manipulated. I refuse to be corrupted. I refuse to be stupid. I REFUSE TO VOTE!
^^^ It really does matter! You CAN make a difference
Check out this picture, it’s a really clear definition of how everyone’s vote is important!
https://twitter.com/truthdig/status/529746025452683264
Wasn’t it you voters that put Harper in the position to screw all citizens out of our rights. I’m sorry but voting won’t change the abuse of power that has continued year after year vote after vote. What needs to happen is all non voters votes should be counted to show how many of us out here believe the system has to be revamped limiting political power over the citizens.
OK you guys did it! I WILL vote on October 19th. I will be voting for the Green Party lets hope my vote gets them the seat!!!!!!!! My Vote does matter!
If you don’t vote…then shut up til the next election.