The election on Oct. 19 needs to be about voting, not vote splitting.
I am writing this letter to strongly encourage people not to vote strategically. Voting strategically dilutes democracy and turns the whole electoral system upside down.
To add insult to injury, strategic voting may not really work. The theory behind this is that human behaviour is not predictable when it comes to a battle between the heart and the mind. That is why polling has been so erratic in the past few elections. What people say they are going to do is not what actually happens in the polling booth.
Think about it. People are ideologically attached to a political platform and on voting day, many people will default their vote to the party they really want to vote for. So for those of you who are committed to strategic voting, my advice is: Do not do it. Vote from your heart and redirect your energy to getting more voters to turn out. Much like our municipal election, let’s try to increase voter turnout. It’s the ‘no shows’ who can and will make a difference in this election.
Unlike the other parties, the Green Party is not concerned about vote splitting. Instead, they are concerned about getting the vote out. Only 61 per cent of Canadians voted in the last election, according to Elections Canada. If we encourage a few people to vote who might not otherwise, we will still get Stephen Harper out and place Greens in a better position where they could hold the balance of power. We know the Liberals and NDP don’t want to share government. They had a chance to form a coalition government in the last election and they blew it. This election, I support “a Canada that works together.” I’m supporting the Green Party.
Let’s make this election about increasing voter turnout, not a game of vote-splitting.
Michelle Neilson
Squamish
