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The Urbanite – Jon Liedtke – Oct. 23, 2014

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Election day is fast approaching, and if you haven’t voted yet in advance polls, I urge you to vote on Oct. 27.

In addition to being one of the most important civic responsibility citizen’s have, it’s also a right, and one that was fought long and hard for.

The right to vote, to cast your decision and have it recorded, is inspiring and awesome; awesome in the truest sense of the word. While it’s easy to think we have little impact on the world around us, the sheer act of voting sends ripples throughout the world.

Democratic societies prosper with an engaged citizenry, and the lure and appeal of voting resonates the world over.

The issues affecting Windsor are serious, and you are able to affect the outcome of both where were going and how we get there.

Judge your council and mayoral candidates now. Scrutinize their actions, words, media interviews, social media posts, and please, if you have a question, reach out to them.

Don’t know where a candidate stands on an issue? Give them a call. Want to tell a candidate what’s important to you? Send them an e-mail. Want to ask why a candidate acted a certain way? Tweet them.

The social media generation is constantly changing politics and elections are no exception.

Last week at the #VoteNowVoteThen mayoral debate hosted by The Urbanite, YKNOT and Pathway to Potential, the social media generation posed questions to candidates through online channels and sought to engage in politics their way.

In 2011, the social media generation — 18 to 39 year olds — accounted for roughly 35 per cent of eligible voters, the second largest voter block, followed by baby boomers (45 per cent) and seniors (20 per cent), according to Statistics Canada.

While ranked ballots won’t be implemented throughout Ontario until 2018, other measures need to be enacted to ensure voters are provided with all the options. Urge the provincial government to implement the option to decline your vote as well. A declined ballot is recorded separately from spoiled ballots and can send a strong signal to candidates and politicians.

The takeaway is simple: voting is important and it can affect change. Voting day is Oct. 27. Go vote.

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LETTER: Vote now, vote then, as long as you vote! (archive.org)

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Jonathon Liedtke is the managing editor of The Urbanite, Windsor’s alternative newspaper. He is also a member of Windsor’s “Punk with Horns” band The Nefidovs, and as such, is committed to enhancing and sustaining the arts community.

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