Voting

Daily writing prompt

Do you vote in political elections?

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The short answer to today’s prompt is yes.

I’m not well-versed in the types of governments or political parties that might be found across the face of the planet. In Canada, our parliamentary system is derived from the British or “Westminster” tradition.

Having given the exceedingly brief overview, I do think one of the few things a person in a parliamentary democracy should absolutely do is vote.

In Canada, we employ a “first past the post” style of voting in elections, which in its most simple terms means voters cast a vote for a single candidate, and the candidate with the most votes wins the election. The problem with this style is that a political party can form a government without the majority of Canadians who voted to support it. In the last election in 2019, the now-governing Liberal Party received 32.6% of the votes cast, yet won 155 seats in the House of Commons. The Conservative Party which formed the Official Opposition actually gained 33.7% of votes(so more people voted for them), but only won 119 seats.

There has been talk and even in the last election of having election reform in terms of proportional representation as the new style to determine representation in parliament. If one political party wins 35% of the votes, they would get 35% of the seats in the House of Commons. If another party won 30% of the votes, they would receive 30% of the seats in the House. And so on.

There are certainly issues with the current “first past the post” model and I’m sure there are with other models as well. But, casting a vote is the one thing we can do. The one thing we have a right to do.

I try to follow politics a bit. I do find the “gaslighting” and “political rhetoric” a bit much at times. I follow the line of thought, that if you don’t vote, then “stop bitching and complaining” about this and that political party or the current government in power.

If you don’t vote then you absolutely get the government you deserve. Just ask the people of Ontario.

–as always with love–

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