The federal election is just around the corner and, for the first time, everyone in the millennial demographic is old enough to head to the polls.
So what exactly does that mean? This year, millennials make up the biggest group of eligible voters in Canada. Were you born between 1980 and 2000? If so, I’m looking at you, kid. It’s time to get your butt to the polls and let your voice be heard. Here’s why:
It’s time to shake things up
Over the past several weeks, in almost all of my conversations with older voters I’ve heard statements like, “I’m voting Liberal so the Conservatives don’t win” or “It’s not like the other parties have a chance so you’re left to choose between the two giants.”
Though these may be the political views of generations past, Canada does not run on a two-party system, and millennials voters understand that. You have the right to vote for any political party or independent candidate you want! Don’t let your vote be swayed by hypothetical limitations imposed by others.
The millennial vote is underestimated
In past elections, numbers proved that millennials didn’t exactly turn up to the polls in droves. But as the demographic gets older and political priorities begin to develop more fully, it’s our time to show that we have a voice and demand to be heard. It is up to our generation to set our own expectations and standards of Canadian government officials.
It’s your future
Like it or not, the decisions made as a result of this election will directly affect us, and as the 40-and-unders, we’re the ones who have to deal with the repercussions the longest. Yes, maybe dragging yourself to the polls is a slight inconvenience, but would you rather sit back and have someone else decide your future for you?
No vote. No complaints.
What’s more annoying than listening to someone complain about political decisions only to have them turn around and say they didn’t vote? Nothing. If you don’t vote, you don’t get to complain about what happens as a result. If you stand up for your beliefs by voting and things don’t go your way, you earn the right to complain until the cows come home because at least you tried.
So what’s stopping you?
“I don’t like any of the options and/or think the government is corrupt.” OK, fine, I get it. It’s hard to vote for someone when you don’t wholeheartedly agree with or believe in them. To this I say, you have to believe in something. Maybe you don’t agree with everything a particular candidate has to offer, but chances are if you take a step back and evaluate your beliefs and values, you’ll find that they align more with some candidates than others.
“I don’t want to vote for the lesser of two, three, four, etc. evils.” Again, I understand where you’re coming from, but I still urge you to vote. In a piece from 2018, writer Raphael Pirro references Noam Chomsky’s moral issue regarding voting. “What is the right thing to do if you are offered to choose between two choices: a bad one and a worse one?” Pirro’s response? “Given that there will be an outcome anyway, the only good choice is the one that will minimize bad effects. If all options are bad, pick the least bad one.” By not choosing, you’re upping the chances that the worse of the choices will win.
The most common objection I’ve heard from non-voters is that they are unsure who to vote for and casting an uneducated vote seems unfair. In the digital age, this isn’t something that should stop you! There are so many amazing resources online that allow voters to educate themselves from the comfort of their own homes. Check out tools like CBC’s Vote Compass or my personal favourite the “I Side With” quiz. By quickly ranking the issues of importance to you, you can find out which party you align most closely with.
So millennials, I’m begging you, head to the polls this month and let your voices be heard. And hey, even if you’re not a Millennial you should get out there and vote too! Vote because people have fought for your ability to. Vote because you can.
For information about where, when, and how to vote, visit: elections.ca
Jill Ellsworth is a writer and communications specialist who lives in Dominion, N.S. Her column appears biweekly across the Saltwire Network. She can be reached at [email protected].
