Why Vote?


Your Excuses - Rejected!

I don't care (or "I don't give a $%&#")
Sigh.  I’m not angry; I’m just disappointed.   (Guilt – did that work?!)   Listen, folks: I don’t know how to make you care.  All the best convincing in the world is wasted on someone who meets it with a shrug or a “meh”.  I want to reach right out and slap you, and maybe that’s my next campaign: “reach out and slap someone!”  But I have to believe that if you’ve made it at least this far on my website, you must care a little.   So stick with me!  Then you can go and slap around your apathetic friends.

I don't know enough/ I don't follow politics/ I hate politics
Fair point.  Lots of us don't read or watch the news on a regular basis and feel out of touch with the issues.  This doesn't make us bad or stupid people; we're busy and we've got our own lives and families to worry about.  Politics is certainly not for everyone, and that is the very reason that every few years, we take a little time and choose someone else to make the decisions for us.  You can form opinions and make intelligent choices without being up-to-the minute on all the political games.  Have a look at the information on my website - you'll see how simple it can be!  Please don't leave it up to everyone else to decide for you.

I STILL don't know enough and don't want to make a wrong decision.
Again, valid point, but I counter with these two points.  One: you're at my website, you're going to have information at your fingertips!  Two: You can't make a wrong decision. There is no right one, there's only what you think. I believe you can make an informed choice between candidates in your ward based on the information and links you find here.  Watch videos, read articles, attend forums, visit candidate websites!

My vote won't matter.
A common concern, that one vote really won't make a difference.  It comes down to basic math - accumulating any number of votes always starts at one.  We'd get nowhere if everyone thought that one vote doesn't matter.  Every vote is counted, therefore every vote counts!   But here's the important part - in a municipal election, your vote counts EVEN MORE than in provincial or federal!  Why?  Numbers again!  1 out of a country of 30 million is nothing compared to 1 out of a city of 800,000!

All politicians are crooks and liars.
Yup.  I don't suppose you'd have much argument from many people on this point (uh, sorry to anyone I personally know running for council).  However, like it or not, they're going to be in charge regardless of your opinion of them, so get in there and pick the best of the bunch!  (Or the least bad.)

My family member/partner is voting.
SLAP!  Okay, shake it off.  Why ya gotta make me hit you? All right, sister, if you've just told me that you don't give a crap about politics and besides, your husband votes anyway, then you need more than a slap.  You need a wake up call!  Does your husband pick out your clothes for you, too?  Decide what you're going to eat, wear, say?  Ladies & gentlemen, it is 2010!  YOU speak for yourself.  Women only got the right to vote in this country less than a hundred years ago; you'd damn well better not give up on it so easily.

I don't have time.
Bullshit.  Everyone has the same amount of time as everyone else, and YOU choose how to prioritize it.  Make the time!

I can't, I'm working.
Luckily, by law, your employer is required to grant you time off for voting.  See here for details:

I can't, I'm out of town.
Most cities have advance voting options, or mail-in ballots.   In Edmonton, you can vote during business hours at city hall, or visit advance polls in your ward on October 9 or October 16.
Other cities, please visit the page for your city for more information.

I can't make the advanced polls / I can't walk
Again, check your city's info page on mail-in ballots.  The City of Edmonton offers a "special ballot"

I've read all this and I still don't wanna!
Whaaaaaat?  Come onnn!   Pleeeease?  Do it for me?  Do it because these American celebrities wanted people to vote in the last US election and I promised you a funny Youtube video
Picture