[Strutz]

$1:

Election voter turnout higher than 2008, but near historic lows

TORONTO - About 61 per cent of eligible voters cast ballots last night, a total roughly in line with Canada's four other 21st-century elections.

The total was higher than in the 2008 election, in which a record low of 58.8 per cent of eligible voters showed up at the polls.

Voter turnout has been falling generally in every election since 1979. Before the 1972 election, turnout often reached 79 per cent.

The 1958 election that brought John Diefenbaker to power had the nation's highest-ever turnout, at 79.4 per cent.

http://www.canada.com/NEWS/2011+Canadia ... story.html

While 61% is slightly better than last time around I still find it very dissapointing that 39% of the population do not take part in the process. My question is... Why would you not vote? The excuse that seems to come up (and that I've heard people tell me) is "What difference does it make?", which is a ridiculous response as far as I'm concerned. The outcomes of some ridings could actually be changed if these people would only take the few minutes to cast their vote. It's a shame we can't at least reach the 75% mark.

We are fortnate enough to live in a democratic society where we have the right to make our voice heard by the simple mark of an "X". There are many around the world that do not have that right... can many of us even imagine what that would be like?

IMO, it is an obligation as a citizen to take part in the process that allows us to do so. And more importantly... if you don't vote then you lose the right to bitch about the outcome or any decisions made thereafter. Speak up beforehand next time!

[raydan]

I'd rather see a lower turnout of people that have a knowledge of the issues and have done at least a bit of research on the parties and their local candidates...

...than seeing a high turnout but having a bunch of people voting that don't know WTF they're doing.

[Strutz]

raydan raydan:

I'd rather see a lower turnout of people that have a knowledge of the issues and have done at least a bit of research on the parties and their local candidates...

...than seeing a high turnout but having a bunch of people voting that don't know WTF they're doing.

I understand what you're saying raydan. It is critical that people vote in an informed way. But how can people NOT have knowledge of the issues? Who doesn't have access to the internet, TV, newspapers or radio where this information is provided? Are there really that many people with their heads buried so deep in the sand or up their asses that they are still unaware?

[raydan]

Strutz Strutz:

raydan raydan:

I'd rather see a lower turnout of people that have a knowledge of the issues and have done at least a bit of research on the parties and their local candidates...

...than seeing a high turnout but having a bunch of people voting that don't know WTF they're doing.

I understand what you're saying raydan. It is critical that people vote in an informed way. But how can people NOT have knowledge of the issues? Who doesn't have access to the internet, TV, newspapers or radio where this information is provided? Are there really that many people with their heads buried so deep in the sand or up their asses that they are still unaware?

Some people just aren't interested, just like others are not hockey fans.
Call it what you want apathy, indifference, laziness... others just can't put their heads around it.

[OnTheIce]

having worked at a polling station on e-day as a scrutineer, I think accessibility is a huge concern. Because our population is aging, it makes it very difficult for some people to get out.

Also, with the change in the way people work, with all hours of the day, voting online would make the process much easier.

I think if we allow people to vote online or vote via telephone, it would go a long way to increasing turnout.

We're able to send our income tax safely, surely we can do online voting in a safe manor.

[saturn_656]

Some people simply do not care about politics.

That's it.

[Brenda]

It's been down the drain for 3 generations, according to the story... I's not just "today's youth"...

[Zipperfish]

I ndon't know if it's "today's" youth. I never voted when I was younger. I was a member of the "I wanna" Party. The machinations of a bunch of old fuddy-duddies three thousand miles away wasn't of great concern to me.

I personally think that choices qwere a little more stark back then. In this election it was often difficult to see the diferrences between Liberal and CPC policies. The parites are all closer ot the centre now, and , at least for the Liberals and Conservatives, the messaging is so polished as to be, for all practical purposes, useless. That's my take anyways.

[Public_Domain]

[dino_bobba_renno]

I don't think it's fair to just blame the "youth", the vast majority of people I know who are my age or older don't vote either. Particularly the older generation (50+), they just can't be bothered and don't feel it makes a difference.

[Freakinoldguy]

dino_bobba_renno dino_bobba_renno:

I don't think it's fair to just blame the "youth", the vast majority of people I know who are my age or older don't vote either. Particularly the older generation (50+), they just can't be bothered and don't feel it makes a difference.

I gotta disagree with you on that one. Mrs Freakin and I went to the advanced polls in our town and actually had to wait in line for 20 minutes for the priviledge of voting.

During my tenure in line I and another gentleman started talking about the youth vote and ended up looking around at all the other polling stations to see who was voting. Out of the couple of hundred people who were patiently waiting in line I didn't see one person under what I'd assume to be 50.

But, to top it off when we were walking out the door a couple, in what I'd say to be their thirties was walking in. They took one look at the lineups and left saying they didn't want to have to wait to vote.

So to say that the youth are voting and it's the older generations that aren't certainly isn't the case where I come from.