Election Night 2008: Voting, so (a)-pathetic

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	Voting: So (A)-pathetic

	Phillip Hong 12 Oct 2008

Why is it so hard to vote?

Even with minority governments, the time in which we can exercise such a fundamental right is so easily wasted and ignored by an uninterested public.

I turned eighteen years old the day before municipal elections were held back in 2006. All I had to do, even without my name on the official voters' roll at the time, was to bring appropriate identification. It was easy, quick, painless and I got to say it was a calming feeling.

Earlier that day, a female friend and I were trolling (which is probably a lousy way to describe it) on Yonge Street in Toronto, entering an adult-themed shop just because I could as a person over the age of majority. It wasn't as painless or calming as voting, but for some voters they would rather enter an adult shop than vote at all.

For the record, I glanced and gave a disgusted look considering my naivete and baby face to boot, dragging my suddenly amused female friend out of the store.


	People are definitely not liking the government as we see it in general. I'm certainly not thrilled with partisanship, or corporate donations, or moustaches for that matter. But voting was a right that we as a country fought for in war and with the British.

	I'm sure that this history lesson has already bored most apathetic voters I'm trying to convince.

	Election laws stipulate that you have the time to vote. You can be excused from work or probably school just to slip that ballot into the ballot box.

	But why such low turnouts these days? Sure, we're not satisfied with politics.

	But without voting, even with a spoilt or blank ballot, you as a non-voter has given all permission to let the current system continue its apathetic voter-making ways.

	So take your damn Voter Information Card, and say what you need to say on that small piece of paper. Why is it so hard to vote?