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Are
You Too Busy to Vote?
Innisfil Enterprise
July 25, 2007
By Peter Van Loan, MP, York-Simcoe
This spring, as Minister for Democratic
Reform, I introduced a proposed law called
the Expanded Voting Opportunities Bill. The
purpose of this change is to make it easier
for Canadians to vote. It does this by
creating additional advance poll dates on
the two Sundays before an election day.
Across Canada, voter turnout in elections
has been declining since our highest turnout
in 1958. The same decline in voter
participation is happening right here in
York-Simcoe.
The reasons are complex. But all forms of
community involvement have been in decline
at the same time. Fewer people are
participating in local service clubs, in
organizing children's sports leagues, or
other local volunteer organizations.
Experts say this trend to lower community
involvement (including voting) is caused by
societal change. Things like time pressure
from commuting, from work, and the role of
television as the new focus of people's
social lives all are said to be factors.
But when it comes to voting, studies show
that a third to half of Canadians who didn't
vote gave as their reason, a lack of time on
voting day.
By adding advance polls on the two Sundays
before voting day, we hope that those
obligations of school, work and family will
be less likely to interfere with voting.
(There are already advance polls on the
Friday, Saturday and Monday a week before
election day)
The advance poll proposed for the Sunday
before a Monday election day would be
special, with voting stations at the same
locations as on election day - meaning
everyone could vote in their own
neighbourhood on a Sunday advance poll.
It is hoped that families will come to vote
with their children, helping them to learn
about the civic duty to vote and the
importance of democracy in our free society.
A lesson like that, well-learned, will last
a lifetime.
Our proposed law to expand voting
opportunities has not yet finished the
process in Parliament to become law. But it
has passed second reading (meaning
approval-in-principle).
I hope it becomes law before the next
election. If so, we will have the
opportunity to increase voter turnout. I
believe that through greater voter
participation, we will encourage community
involvement, and enhance our social capital
through greater civic engagement.
Of course, greater voter participation will
strengthen our democracy. That's change for
the better!
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