I live in the provincial riding of Vancouver - Mt. Pleasant, home to what is almost certainly the highest concentration of social issues in BC, and probably the entire country. Arguably, then, and understandably, residents of Mt. Pleasant have the greatest degree of self-interest in the results of the election. Yet turnout here was just over 40 percent, even lower than the pathetic province-wide average of around 50 percent.
The fact that this riding is absolutely rock-solid for the NDP probably has a lot to do with it; there's simply no serious competition for votes in Mt. Pleasant, so what's the point in busting your butt to get to the polls?
So it may be understandable for the election being tuned out in Mt. Pleasant, but it isn't acceptable. And it certainly isn't acceptable to sit back and do nothing about the fact that the decline in turnout is a province-wide trend.
The way we elect our governments is being rejected by voters. Premier Campbell's majority government was elected by just 25 percent (roughly) of eligible voters. That doesn't seem right (and I would say the same thing if the NDP had won.)
I don't know if a new system altogether is the answer (obviously the somewhat bizarre variant that was on offer May 12 was rejected), or even part of the answer, but we need to do something to increase citizen participation in elections.
The BC NDP should push for a massive voter registration drive as part of a larger package of democratic and electoral reform. I'm not saying a political party should be in charge of signing up voters, but why not demand higher funding for Elections BC with the express mandate of increasing voter participation?
There's a start. I've got more to say on this.
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