Voter Turnout

Mr. TK

“Voting in an election is the single most important act of political participation in a modern

democracy such as Canada.”

- Royal Commission on Electoral Reform

Objectives

Curriculum Expectations: demonstrate an understanding of the process of electing governments in

Canada (e.g., riding distribution, decision to call an election, voters’ lists, campaigning, candidates’ debates, election-day procedures)

articulate and clarify their personal beliefs and values concerning democratic citizenship (e.g., voting age, compulsory military service, mandatory retirement age)

By the end of this presentation, you should be able to: Identify who can and cannot vote in an election. Explain direct democracy. Explain representative democracy. Identify simple trends in voter turnout. Identify reasons for not voting. Explain existing and future ways to increase voter turnout.

Who can vote?

Canadian citizenAt least 18 years old

Who can’t vote?

Visitors from another countryImmigrants who aren’t yet citizensYoung people under 18 years oldInsanePrisoners serving more than two years in jail

Direct Democracy

In an ideal democracy, all citizens participate in political life.

In ancient Greece, all male citizens voted on issues.

Most held office at least once in their lifetime.

This is called direct democracy.

Representative Democracy

Most nations are too large to allow direct democracy

Instead, we choose others to debate and make the laws that affect our society.

We place our trust in the judgment and good sense of the representatives we elect to make decisions for us.

This is called indirect or representative democracy.

Voter Turnout Rates

Voter Turnout

Voter Turnout

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

1979 1980 1984 1988 1992 1993 1997 2000 2004 2006 2005

Time

Per

cen

t o

f V

ote

r L

ist

Canada

Ontario

Reasons for Not Voting

The Teen Voter

Identify three reasons why teens may be less prone to vote than others?

“More Days More Ways” to Vote

Vote at the returning office anytime in the month before the election (Advanced Polls)

Vote by mail Election officials will come to

your home so you can vote Mobile polls will be set up at

hospitals and nursing homes Assistive Voting Technology Assistive Devices (magnifiers,

easy-grip pencils and Braille ballots).

Bring a friend Alternate Location

Other Voting Alternatives

Picture Ballots– Include a picture of each candidate to assist visually disabled

citizens and citizens with language problems

Sunday Voting– Employees may not be able to vote during the workday, so voting

on the weekend - especially on Sunday - may be an option

On-line Voting– Using a secure website, voters may cast their ballot via computer,

smart phone, tablet, etc.

Lowering the Voting Age– You can drive a car at 16, why not vote as well?

Next Steps

Read Getting out the vote on p.66 and answer questions 1-3 on p.66.

Should voting be compulsory in a democracy?– Write a paragraph to be handed in.