By Nicolina Lanni
So, it’s election time. Again. Do you find yourself asking: Why should I vote? And how on earth do I vote? I’m certainly asking those questions. Well, this year that’s all going to change. I am forcing myself to sit down and learn the basics of the Canadian electoral process. And I am bringing you, gentle reader, along for the ride.
Am I eligible to vote?
Are you a Canadian citizen, or will you be one on polling day? Will you be at least 18 or older on polling day? If you said yes to both of those questions then you’re eligible to vote.
How do I vote?
This is where it gets a little tricky — you actually have to put in a little effort. To vote, you need to be registered.
Am I registered to vote?
Each year, Elections Canada contacts Canadians who turn 18 and registers them as voters. Once you’re on the list you will be mailed a voter information card every election.
If you are a new Canadian citizen you should have completed an application for citizenship that puts your name on the voter’s list, and you’ll get your card in the mail.
Say what?
If you’re unsure about your registration status or want to register, call Elections Canada at 1-800-463-6868. For people with hearing difficulties: TTY 1-800-361-8935.
At home or away?
Once you know you’re eligible to vote, you can do it from anywhere in the world. Let’s look at three different scenarios:
I’ll be in town on polling day
Take your voter information card and go to the nearest polling station in your riding.
It’ll say on the card where you should go. Once you’re there, just follow the signs — there’s always lots of them — and ask questions if you’re confused.
I’ll be away at school on polling day
You have a few options. Go home and vote. You can kill two birds with one stone and get a load of free laundry done too. Or you can register and vote in your home away from home.
You can also vote by special ballot that can be mailed to your riding.
I’ll be travelling on polling day
Your best option is to vote by special ballot. Ask Elections Canada to mail you a special ballot voting kit before Jan. 17. Then, take advantage of their free postage and mail your vote so they receive your ballot on or before Jan. 23.
How can I get to the polling station?
The candidates really want your vote so they will do just about anything to get you to the poll. Most parties offer rides to the polls, so give any candidate a call at their office and arrange a ride with them.
I want to get more involved
There are plenty of ways to get involved. You can visit any of the dozen or so political party websites and find ways to volunteer or get involved. Or, you can become a candidate or start your own party, so long as you’re Canadian, 18, and turn in your nomination form by Jan 2.
So, if you’re an eligible voter you’re only a few steps away from changing the world, or at least attempting to. But what is really going on with this system I’m trying to participate in?
What is an MP?
An MP is your Member of Parliament. He or she represents the people in their riding and acts as a voice for those people in Parliament.
What is my riding?
Canada is divided up into 308 ridings represented by an MP. To find out what riding you are in — it is probably Ottawa Centre if you are reading this paper — visit www.electionscanada.ca. On the home page, there is a box that says “Find your electoral district.’’ Type in your postal code to get the name of your riding.
What happens after an election?
Besides the votes being counted, not a lot happens after an election . . . joking! This is where the magic takes place. In Canada we have a “first-past-the-post” system where the candidate with the most votes wins a seat in the House of Commons and represents that riding as its MP.
Why does my vote matter?
This is a question of enormous importance. In Canada we do not elect a Prime Minister; instead the party with the most MPs forms the government.
The leader of this party becomes Prime Minister and chooses people to form a cabinet.
So your vote means a lot. When you vote for your MP you are choosing the party that will govern our country. Think before you vote.