Voter turnout is shameful

Dear editor: Compulsory voting is really what B.C.’s electoral referendum should be about. The goal of 100 percent voter turnout for every election is the purest, clearest voice that voters can give; a true (numerical) majority, or if voters so chose, they can vote in a minority government.

Any electoral mandate given with 100 per cent compulsory voter turnout is unassailable.

In comparison, changing first past the post to proportional representation is a shell game; an effort by minority parties to change the mechanism that would increase the number of parties able to sit in our legislature, empowering their minority opinion and agenda, which can and will hold the majority opinion hostage. However, changing our voting system does nothing to help improve voter engagement and increase voter turnout; only compulsory voting will do this.

The idea of citizenship dates back to ancient Greece, which granted their “citizens” rights and privileges, which meant sharing in the duties needed to maintain the city-state. In a democracy one of the critical duties for maintaining our nation state is voting.

The current NDP/Green minority government together holds 56 percent of the popular vote, out of the 58 percent voter turnout; representing only 27 percent of all eligible voters.

With such outcomes, citizens should be ashamed of the dismal regard towards their civic duty which comes with citizenship.

However, for the question at hand, this poor showing not only illustrates the need for compulsory voting, but also clearly justifies that without 100 per cent compulsory voter turnout; the political legitimacy for this electoral referendum demands a bare minimum of 50 per cent voter turnout; which would represent a win by less than 25 per cent of eligible voters.

Even this minimum is still a shameful delectation of our civic duty. Jon Peter Christoff

West Kelowna