It’s midterm season, you’ve got a million and a half things on your to-do list, and anytime you do have to spare, you’ve reserved for sleep and comfort food. So why should you set aside an hour to line up at the polls and cast your vote? Here are a few reasons why your vote matters in the Federal Election this Monday October 19th.
1. Voting is your civic responsibilityAs an adult (I know it’s hard to believe) Canadian, you have the right and responsibility to determine who governs our country. We’ve all made Canada our home and whom we choose to oversee it is a choice we have the power to make.
2. Vote for the policies that benefit youMany people choose who to vote for based on which party has the best policies to suit the needs of their demographic; be it students, seniors, or a particular economic class. Finding out what each party has to offer you has never been more straightforward. In addition to the hours of debates you can watch on YouTube, there are tons of comprehensive sites that make finding the each party’s stance on current issues super accessible. 3. Strategic voting can prevent changes you don’t want
If you do your research and find a policy you don’t want to see take effect, you might choose to vote “strategically”. The Canadian government currently uses a “first-past-the-post“ system. This basically means that each riding elects one representative to a seat in the House of Commons. The party with the most representatives or seats forms the government. By looking at the projected polls for a riding, some people vote “defensively” and decide to support the opposition with the best chance of winning the riding against a given undesired party.
4. Voting is a simple action that has lasting effectsAll it takes to vote is 1) a voting card (for which you can register here), 2) a piece of government issued ID with your photo, name and address like a driver’s license, and 3) perhaps an hour of your day to cast your ballot and be on your way. When you think about all of the Stages, Smoke’s, and HoCo ticket lines you’ve waited in, this one is a cakewalk. 5. Votes of young people change the outcomesWe are a demographic that has a reputation for shying away on Election Day. However, for every vote we don’t cast, it gives the groups who do vote double the power to control the outcomes. At times it may feel like we live in the Queen’s Bubble but we do operate inside a greater system and by voting, we claim the power to influence the rules we play by.
Cheers to all the students who have already voted in the advanced polls and those who have voted from overseas while on exchange. If you haven’t voted yet, you’re just in time for the main event this Monday October 19th. There are so many resources to help you get the facts you need to make an informed decision and get registered as a voter. All you need to do is ‘llow it, fam.
