Advance polls closed Monday, Oct. 12, leaving Canadians with only one more day to cast a ballot in the 2015 federal election. That day, of course, is election day—Oct. 19.
During advance polls—which were extended to four days from three—3.6 million Canadians exercised their democratic right to vote. That represents a 71 per cent increase over the three days of advance polling in 2011.
Although a huge increase, that still leaves more than 20 million eligible voters to cast a ballot Oct. 19.
In 2011, 14.7 million ballots were cast across the country, representing 61 per cent of eligible voters.
If we're to match that this year, there are upwards of 11 million voters who will line up at the polls across the country.
This has been one of the longest federal campaigns on record, and although at times it has been tedious—during the extended naqab debates, for instance—there is a lot of momentum and interest amongst the electorate.
People are engaged.
In Jasper more than 60 people showed up for the all candidates forum at the Jasper Activity Centre to hear from each of the people vying for Yellowhead MP and to put them on the spot, and the turnout was similar in communities across our riding.
In 2011, 56 per cent of eligible voters in the Yellowhead riding cast a ballot. In the 2014 byelection, just 16 per cent showed up. That's just 12,601 eligible voters out of a possible 78,481.
Surely we can do better than that this year.
The choice we make as residents of Yellowhead and as Canadians is critical to our future.
Our newly elected federal government has a lot of work to do come Oct. 20. The next four years hold numerous challenges, from reducing greenhouse gas emissions to deciding on whether or not to commit to the Trans-Pacific Partnership—a partnership that will create a free-trade zone among 12 nations around the Pacific.
Of course there are also discussions to be had around the economy, immigration, refugees, murdered and missing Aboriginal women, health care and the country's ailing infrastructure.
It's our duty to pick the right people and party for the job.
On Oct. 19, we hope to see Jasperites out in droves.
This is our chance to have our say in who represents Jasper, Yellowhead and our country—don’t miss it.
See you at the polls.
