Federal election
|
Submitted by trailhead on Mon, 15/09/2008 - 3:35pm.
|
|
|
Posts: 76
Joined: 17-06-2007 |
Who are the candidates running for office in this area? Is there any point in voting Oct 14th given that a stuffed mongoose could run as a Conservative and win in this riding? What's your opinion? |
|
Joined: 12-04-2007
You should vote for the party and candidate you support, regardless of the likely outcome. If nothing else, vote because political parties get some funding based on their percentage of the vote - so even if the party of your choice doesn't win they do benefit from the vote.
Joined: 01-03-2007
Here is an interesting site that has analyzed the effect of vote splitting and gives suggestions for voting smart.
http://www.voteforenvironment.ca/
They have the latest polls for every riding in the country and a suggestion for whom to vote for in order to prevent the Conservatives from remaining in power.
Joined: 26-10-2006
Isn't that kind of like telling someone who to vote for. I kind of like the whole idea of people making up their own minds.
Joined: 01-12-2005
It may be an interesting site but it is biased and funded by anti-Harper backers, so how much relevance should we give it?
I believe strategic voting is going to be extremely important for the upcoming elections and if people don't want the Conservatives to gain majority government they should think carefully about who they vote for.
In theory, I absolutely believe what Bob is saying, we should vote for who we believe in, but at what point should we vote for a party based on who we DON'T want to have a majority government?
Joined: 01-03-2007
Firstly, let me say that I have no affiliation with this site (http://www.voteforenvironment.ca/ ) and that I am, as yet, an undecided voter, but it does present some interesting data, regardless of its funding.
Bob, I don’t believe that this site is “telling” anyone for whom they must vote. (Certainly no more than the party organizations or their candidates.) However they do give you access to recent riding polls (from various sources) that may help one decide who has a chance of winning.
Unfortunately with 4 parties running in most ridings, the “first past the post” election system may not elect an individual who reflects the ideals of the majority of voters. I would much prefer a transferable / proportional system that would eliminate the need for strategic voting. Since this is not the case it seems foolish not to at least consider voting strategically and the more data I have with which to assess the situation, the better.
Von, I don’t look at strategic voting as voting solely for a “party based on who we DON'T want to have a majority government”, it’s also about voting for the party that best represents your ideals and also has a chance of winning.
Having said this… strategic voting is not applicable to all ridings. The polls will show you that this is the case for our riding, the Conservative candidate has an overwhelming lead in all the polls. In this case I will vote for the party/candidate that best reflects and supports my ideals (and has no chance of winning).
Joined: 01-12-2005
Based on your last point, if (for example) you would choose to support the Green Party in this election, knowing that they would not win in this riding, what next is the lesser of two evils, to vote Liberal (who would have more chance of winning this riding then Green) or vote Green (and in effect take your vote away from the Liberals) to have the Conservatives win?
Even as I write this I know it doesn't sound quite right, again I go back to really believing in voting for the party that you believe in, but we have to look at the reason why Harper called this election early - he wants a majority government. So, you have to ask yourself, if you don't want the Conservatives to have a majority government - what can I do? Or rather, how should I vote?
Joined: 15-06-2007
If you want to vote strategically, you can try vote swapping. There's a facebook group "Anti-Harper Vote Swap Canada" that you can join.
Quoting from the group information:
The concept of the vote swap is simple: in a completely legal fashion, it allows voters in different ridings to swap votes to best ensure the Conservatives don't win. Almost anyone who is opposed the Conservatives can take part. If your preferred party has no chance in your riding (or if they are absolutely certain of winning) you can use your vote elsewhere to help candidates from the same party beat the Tories, while at the same time voting strategically to stop the Tories in your own riding.
Use the "anti-Harper Vote Swap" application here: http://apps.facebook.com/ah_vote_swap/
Our three primary goals:
1) Allow third parties to flourish and maintain Canada's multi-party system.
2) Help stop a Harper Majority! If the Tories win big, we all lose equally.
3) Raise awareness about the need for electoral reform - people should not have to go to such lengths to ensure that their vote is not 'wasted.' No party should be elected to a majority with less than 50% of the popular vote.
For those interested in vote swapping, but in a less anti-Conservative fashion, check out: http://www.votepair.ca/
Joined: 18-04-2008
Be careful what you ask for.
Joined: 11-05-2006
Pierre wrote" If the tories win big, we all lose equally" ????
what kind of statement is that, its one hell of an assumption and smacks of listen to me, I'm right and anyone who disagrees with me is wrong, instead of trying to play games Pierre, let people make up thier own minds, whomever they wish to vote for, last time I checked, this was a free democratic country, lets keep it that way, NDP, Liberal, Green or Conservative just vote, its important.
David R Gildea
Joined: 18-04-2008
EXACTLY, GET OUT AND VOTE