Word-of-mouth still effective
Thanks to the advent of social media, more young people are now engaged in the process of participating in municipal elections. More younger people are voting, which is great, but many are still learning how it works. This isn’t a slap at young voters, many older people still haven’t figured out voting strategy. Earlier this month, we shared the idea of not voting for all four, six or eight candidates if you only favour a few. We also suggested leaving the mayoral ballot blank if you dislike all of the choices, or the school trustee portion blank if you honestly don’t know who you’re voting for.
We offer a method of how your one vote can become five, 10 or 20 votes before you know it.
It’s the “get-on-the-phone” strategy, used in Quebec by Jack Layton and the NDP. In 2011, a hard-core group felt Layton was their best option and in the last few weeks of the campaign launched a word-of-mouth campaign. It worked. The NDP formed the official Opposition. Back to the municipal election. If there’s a candidate who you think would do a great job, tell your friends and neighbours. Encourage first-time voters. Pick them up and drive them to the polls, if you have to. Offer to take a candidate doorto-door in your own neighbourhood where you can introduce them to prospective voters. Organize a 45-minute meet and greet at your home for a candidate, put the coffee pot on and invite your close friends.
Word-of-mouth support doesn’t need to be limited to your own municipality.
At a recent Summerland candidates’ forum, I spoke with two people who expressed disappointment they’re not able to participate in the Penticton election because of where they reside. But, there’s nothing stopping them from calling everyone they know in Penticton and encouraging those people to vote for a specific candidate.
This works well with the school board and city council, where you’re allowed multiple choices. A friend will often gladly use one of six spots for someone you recommend to them. Sometimes they don’t know who to vote for and will welcome any suggestions.
Posting a favourites list on social media can be pretentious and ineffective because some people might not care who you’re voting for. People who you can trust one-on-one will value your opinion.
Voter turnout for municipal elections is dismal, somewhere in the mid-30s. This is bizarre because municipal politics is the one level of government that affects you the most on a daily basis. Garbage collection, cemeteries, property taxes, infrastructure, public parks... it’s all there. You will bump into your elected officials in the community. They’re here, not in Ottawa or Victoria. And, there’s certainly a lot of candidates — and from all walks of life — to choose from.
Newspaper advertisements, campaign signage and attendance at candidates’ forums plus special events during the election cycle are all important. But, nothing sells a candidate better than good-old-fashioned word-of-mouth.
Helping others get involved with the elections