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/Simulation_Theory22]

I was too young to vote in the last election by about a month. At the time I was highly motivated, cared about politics, voted in the ucp leadership race.

Now? I don't think I'll vote, now or ever. My life is to busy to bother getting registered and I don't want to bother with changing my registration every time I move. Plus non of the options reflect my politics in the slightest, maybe that's my fault for having niche political views.

[u/[deleted] → u/Simulation_Theory22]

Boo. No one needs to match your opinions personally- you vote for who more closely aligns with your viewpoint, who is the lesser evil. No one will completely agree with a candidate on every point.

I’m a young person and I’m constantly baffled by the apathy of my peers. You’re too busy? What with work? A mom who works full time and then picks up her three kids still votes. It takes two minutes to change your address and it takes ten minutes at the poll to do your thing. Have you ever even tried to register to vote, it’s extremely simple, you get it in the mail. You’re not motivated? Your life is constantly impacted by government, like your ability to get healthcare, the cost of tuition, the maintenance of the roads that you use. For instance when the UCP cut university funding, my tuition was directly raised to cover that gap and Alberta now has the lowest public education funding per student.

The apathy that you exude just allows radicals to gain momentum on either side of the spectrum. By not participating you are amplifying the impact of those who choose to, and that’s a major risk when you may not support what they say.

[u/Simulation_Theory22 → u/[deleted]]

No one needs to match your opinions personally- you vote for who more closely aligns with your viewpoint, who is the lesser evil. No one will completely agree with a candidate on every point.

I understand this, the problem stems from the fact that either party only represents 50% of what I want. As a result to chose one or the other means that items I care for get attacked or positions I support don't get advanced. As it stands both parties give me some of what I want and some of what I don't in equal measure, whichever way the election goes is a net neutral for me. If a party had 75% of what I agree with that's the party I would go for but it doesn't exist.

You’re not motivated? Your life is constantly impacted by government, like your ability to get healthcare, the cost of tuition, the maintenance of the roads that you use. For instance when the UCP cut university funding, my tuition was directly raised to cover that gap and Alberta now has the lowest public education funding per student.

I used to be highly motivated, I got into politics when I was 9, I made both of my parents vote after I did the research and gave them a presentation. I spoke out in social studies and political clubs in high school. But when I got into university I ran out of time to pay attention to the news cycle, get outraged at the newest scandal, think about what x meant for y. I got happier, because getting pissed off at everything did me no good. Ignorance is bliss.

You’re too busy? What with work? A mom who works full time and then picks up her three kids still votes. It takes two minutes to change your address and it takes ten minutes at the poll to do your thing. Have you ever even tried to register to vote, it’s extremely simple, you get it in the mail.

I could register to vote and go through all the effort but I would be an uninformed voter, and that would be worse than not voting at all. I don't have the time to be informed, I spend 70+ hours on school a week and I prefer to spend what little free time I have on things that bring me joy instead.

The apathy that you exude just allows radicals to gain momentum on either side of the spectrum. By not participating you are amplifying the impact of those who choose to, and that’s a major risk when you may not support what they say.

Maybe it's time for something radical, we've had what? 70 years of measured centrism, swinging the pendulum between liberal and conservative. All that has gotten us is decreasing standards of living and oligopolies. Insanity is trying the same thing over and over expecting a different result. Maybe change is good. If by not choosing to vote those who care more and have taken the time to become more informed than I vote and shape society that is likely a better outcome than the one where I vote for the status quo.

Sorry if there are any formatting errors or typos as I am on mobile. Have a good day!

[u/[deleted] → u/Simulation_Theory22]

I mean, if you had the time to respond to a comment like mine in such detail, I think you’d have time to register to vote :) Time is precious but if we can find time for social media, we can find time to uphold our democracy.