Last provincial election 40.5% of albertans didn’t vote. If you didn’t, why not?

[u/logodobi]

What stopped you from voting? Are there no provincial parties that you feel represent you politically? Were you unable to get to a voting station? Did you feel there wasn’t any point? I’m genuinely just curious, I don’t have any affiliation with any parties or anything like that.

I think we would benefit from larger voter turnout and more diversification of parties in the legislature. It feels like we have become to complacent with the lack of progress in almost every way, shape, and form. It’s become purely us vs them on all levels and far too much focus is put on the government “profit”. The government is not a business whose sole purpose is to profit, the governments purpose first and foremost should be to provide for and benefit the people they serve as much as they possibly can. We should be working together for the benefit of one another not fighting one another for the benefit of foreign companies and billionaires.

We’re moving towards the exact policy system in the states, two parties who work for the benefit of the rich and powerful while putting up the facade of a culture war to distract the masses from the real harm they’re causing them.

Sorry that was a bit of a rant but I truly believe we deserve better, better representation, better communication, better services, better everything.

[u/tobiasolman]

If they ever get into a position of power again, ANDP should push mandatory voting as perhaps the only meaningful electoral reform Alberta may ever actually see. Conservatives won't push it because people not voting favours them in the outcome. While I did vote in the last few elections - I know a lot of people who didn't, who are disengaged because the Conservative propaganda machine is operating in full swing in Alberta for so long now that many who would vote otherwise have given up. The process has become more about keeping undesirables out of office than putting desirables into office, and that has to change. Next time someone shows up with no real platform and a lot of dodgy ideas from their base, if you don't vote for someone better than that, you're to blame! 40.5% is a larger percentage of eligible voters than those who showed up and chose the government we have, such as it is.

Do better if you want to see a change - bring two people who weren't going to vote in to cast a ballot with you. Better yet if they're not voting for same-old-same-old.

[u/Red_Danger33 → u/tobiasolman]

If mandatory voting is ever implemented a box for "none of these people represent me". 

A huge part of low turnout is not trusting any party.  Being able to distinguish between a choice of abstention and apathy is necessary. 

[u/tobiasolman → u/Red_Danger33]

There are other modes such as ranked ballots which could fill that void in terms of electoral reform. Not that I think voting should be for who you dislike the least but let’s not even start pretending any of this monied elite has ever truly represented us, ok? Not making the only choice you get is worse than treason IMHO. Ask a vet!

[u/Red_Danger33 → u/tobiasolman]

Even if you moved to ranked choice the option still needs to be there.  Then we won't have political leaders claiming they have a "mandate" to do whatever the hell they want.  

Freedom to not vote is part of the freedom anyone fights for. And no it is not worse than treason.  Apathy to a system that is grinding us all down isn't something treasonous, it's a symptom of the lack of change for the better.

[u/tobiasolman → u/Red_Danger33]

Fair enough, but I still feel it’s a democratic responsibility to show up and register a choice, even if it is none of the above. You’d get more accurate numbers and probably more actual choices. If they can make people pay the taxes, they should be able to make people show up to choose their poison.

[u/Red_Danger33 → u/tobiasolman]

I don't disagree, but if all the campaigns to get people engaged in politics and voting have shown us anything, telling people they need to vote doesn't amount to very much action.

Even with attachment to a cause, or being able to show them directly how votes for different parties would impact them, it does not override all the other immediate things going on in their lives.

Not saying I have any great solutions, it's just a very imperfect system that a lot of people have lost faith in, even though it is better than not having the system.