Thanks or Delete | The Journal of Montreal

Billions of people around the world would give so much to be in our shoes and have the basic right to vote.

We debate endlessly what system is best for our democracy. We may also discuss the appropriateness of each party’s programs, their costs or their feasibility. We can also question the power of elected officials.

But for all these debates to happen freely, you have to maintain democracy, and to maintain democracy, you have to go and vote.

Bad reasons

Some give various wrong reasons for not voting.

They believe that their vote will not change at all. Flaw: At least they can provide post-election reimbursements to the party they voted for.

Others rely on the polls and believe the chips are down. This is another mistake. With all due respect to polls, they can be wrong. Especially when very serious parties are fighting each other.

beneficial

A high voter turnout has a beneficial effect on elected officials and citizens. Elected officials feel supported by the majority of the population, so they are more resistant to lobbies. They feel more scrutinized by citizens, which encourages them to represent themselves better.

Many enemies of democracy try to discourage citizens from voting.

In the United States, Brazil, and elsewhere, some are trying to pretend that the electoral system is corrupt and that election results can be rigged. Indeed, this kind of situation occurs in banana republics, and frauds are usually very obvious.

For example, it is clear that elections in China were rigged or that the referendum on the annexation of Ukrainian territory to Russia was rigged. Those who argue otherwise are either agents of dictatorship or useful idiots.

In Quebec, for the most part, elections are honest and fair. Laws prevent money forces from influencing the vote too much, counties are divided by very neutral officials, and it is difficult to restrict citizens’ right to vote.

In our name

One last reason should encourage us to go and vote. Many of our elected officials work very hard. They consider bills, help their constituents when they have problems with bureaucracy, help community organizations, support towns and villages, support businesses, solve local problems, represent government. In addition to these tasks, there are thirty elected officials for ministries. In short, they govern on our behalf so that we can go about our business.

Not the least of which is that from time to time we vote to elect them, which means thank them for their good work … or fire them.