Why do the Harper Conservatives dislike students?

[Bob]

[n]All of them of course, they don't have an option of voting for another constituency, they chose to vote there. I believe that riding was a close call which explains the Liberals need for a 'vote mob' and the need to try and rig the vote. [/b] The fact that special election ballots are blank requiring the name to be written in, which explains the presence of Liberal pamphlets in the poll,

The whole thing stinks, but cannot be reversed, the least that can be done is a full audit of the procedures and votes. Special ballots require registration and two pieces of I.D., I'd like to know that all rules where followed and there is no chance they can vote again, when they go home. They will be home in time for the election, so there was really no need for such a poll.

Exactly. That's what I thought, thanks.

[YEGmann]

All of them of course, they don't have an option of voting for another constituency, they chose to vote there. I believe that riding was a close call which explains the Liberals need for a 'vote mob' and the need to try and rig the vote. The fact that special election ballots are blank requiring the name to be written in, which explains the presence of Liberal pamphlets in the poll,

The whole thing stinks, but cannot be reversed, the least that can be done is a full audit of the procedures and votes. Special ballots require registration and two pieces of I.D., I'd like to know that all rules where followed and there is no chance they can vote again, when they go home. They will be home in time for the election, so there was really no need for such a poll.

The idea of a special ballot is, in my understanding, to vote for a candidate in the riding of your residence when you are away from it.

If students voted for the candidates in the riding of U of G, this is violation of election rules.

[Bob]

Finally, and most importantly, they found that the votes were cast in a manner that respected the Elections Act.

What is strange is the refusal by some to acknowledge that the votes were valid and that Elections Canada found nothing against the election rules.

I wish I knew more about the actual regulations involved, but I will not automatically trust the decision made by Elections Canada, "just because". In other words, just because Elections Canada says that the votes are valid, to me, doesn't prove that the votes are indeed valid.

Anyways, for those interested, the official Elections Canada statement can be found here. I think it's important to realize that this early voting event doesn't make sense given that early voting is supposed to be for extenuating circumstances (the military, the ill, people who will be out of the country i.e. "snowbirds"). It's also strange that many of these students will likely be voting in a riding to which they don't belong. Lastly, how ill Elections Canada prevent double-voting when students who come from elsewhere return home after their exams are completed? It is sad that Elections Canada cannot even handle the basics of its role.

[capricorn]

The idea of a special ballot is, in my understanding, to vote for a candidate in the riding of your residence when you are away from it.

That's also my interpretation.

[punked]

The real question is where do these students live? Is it in the riding where they spend 9 months of the year while doing their education or their parents house where they maybe spend 3 months of the year? When I was in school I went away during the summer to work in the states does that mean I live no where and don't deserve a vote? Nope it means I live where I go to school.

[Bryan]

The very need for a special ballot is something I don't understand.

You can vote any time you want by just showing up to an Elections Canada office with ID.

Why not just send the students there? There's an office ten minutes away from U of Guelph.

[punked]

The very need for a special ballot is something I don't understand.

You can vote any time you want by just showing up to an Elections Canada office with ID.

Why not just send the students there? There's an office ten minutes away from U of Guelph.

I would agree with this. There is no reason why the ballot box had to go to the students outside of election day, if they wanted to go to the ballot box they could have. Although I think they should be allowed to vote in that riding.

[CANADIEN]

The very need for a special ballot is something I don't understand.

You can vote any time you want by just showing up to an Elections Canada office with ID.

Why not just send the students there? There's an office ten minutes away from U of Guelph.

The argument can be turned around. If they can vote at any time, why not having a special polling station on the campus?

[punked]

The argument can be turned around. If they can vote at any time, why not having a special polling station on the campus?

Because votes should be done in an A-political place to prevent things like voter intimidation and partisanship at the place where people vote. A school Campus by its nature is a very political place. There is no reason these students can't go to a returning office which is a controlled environment which remains um-partisan.

To the same extent I wouldn't want elections Canada to set up in a Church after a Sunday service. It might get more people to vote but is it the right location for such a thing?

Edited April 18, 2011 by punked

[Bryan]

To the same extent I wouldn't want elections Canada to set up in a Church after a Sunday service. It might get more people to vote but is it the right location for such a thing?

Not the right location, but it would be serving the same purpose: attempting to rig the election in favour of one particular voting block. You would not do it for exactly the same reason.

[CANADIEN]

Because votes should be done in an A-political place to prevent things like voter intimidation and partisanship at the place where people vote. A school Campus by its nature is a very political place. There is no reason these students can't go to a returning office which is a controlled environment which remains um-partisan.

To the same extent I wouldn't want elections Canada to set up in a Church after a Sunday service. It might get more people to vote but is it the right location for such a thing?

A large number of polling stations on election day will be located in schools, and churches. The claim that advance or special polls in certain locations are wrong because those locations are too "politically charged" is only valid to the extent that there is no proper scrutiny by the returning officers. Which was not the case here.

[punked]

A large number of polling stations on election day will be located in schools, and churches. The claim that advance or special polls in certain locations are wrong because those locations are too "politically charged" is only valid to the extent that there is no proper scrutiny by the returning officers. Which was not the case here.

No that isn't true on election day all the public has access to these polling places. In this case this polling place was geared at a certain "type" of voter. The question here is equal access if you treat these voters (the youth student vote) differently then you must treat all types of voters differently. That means special polls in Union Halls, special votes in churches, special votes in senior homes, like it or not this is a "block" of voters who have trouble making it to the voting both but also have an agenda. This is a question of equal access. I have no problem with advanced polls I have a problem with a "special poll" designed to turn out a certain type of voter. We all belong to certain voting blocks, I am not saying we all vote the same way but a vote tends to tip depending on where you are. If you aren't willing to bring the voting box to the local gun club why do you get to bring it to young highly educated university students?

[CANADIEN]

No that isn't true (...)

What I said, and nothing else, is that there are a lot of polling stations in churches and schools on voting day. The only way you can infer that I said something that is not true is by reading uin my posting something that is not there.

on election day all the public has access to these polling places. In this case this polling place was geared at a certain "type" of voter. The question here is equal access if you treat these voters (the youth student vote) differently then you must treat all types of voters differently. That means special polls in Union Halls, special votes in churches, special votes in senior homes, like it or not this is a "block" of voters who have trouble making it to the voting both but also have an agenda. This is a question of equal access. I have no problem with advanced polls I have a problem with a "special poll" designed to turn out a certain type of voter. We all belong to certain voting blocks, I am not saying we all vote the same way but a vote tends to tip depending on where you are. If you aren't willing to bring the voting box to the local gun club why do you get to bring it to young highly educated university students?

The argument that having a special polling station in, let's say, a university campus compromises equal access or 7unduly favours certain voters or certain candidates those voters may be most likely to choose is an non-starter. Everyone gets on opportunity to vote. While it could be argued (reasonably), that a special polling station on a university campus is not needed, the only argument should be whether or not there is a need for it.

[punked]

What I said, and nothing else, is that there are a lot of polling stations in churches and schools on voting day. The only way you can infer that I said something that is not true is by reading uin my posting something that is not there.

The argument that having a special polling station in, let's say, a university campus compromises equal access or 7unduly favours certain voters or certain candidates those voters may be most likely to choose is an non-starter. Everyone gets on opportunity to vote. While it could be argued (reasonably), that a special polling station on a university campus is not needed, the only argument should be whether or not there is a need for it.

You said "too "politically charged" is only valid to the extent that there is no proper scrutiny by the returning officers. Which was not the case here." I said no you are wrong. This is a case of access.

Again you think that university students should get special access to polls. I say that if we want to go down that road there should be nothing from stopping people from setting up special polling places in Union halls, senior homes, gun rallies.

If we are arguing the objective is to increase the participation of ALL voters there is no reason why if they are to quote you: "there is proper scrutiny by the returning officers" we should not set up polling places in all these locations. So unless you argue we should treat University students differently would you object to setting up special polling places where ever someone requests one?

[CANADIEN]

You said "too "politically charged" is only valid to the extent that there is no proper scrutiny by the returning officers. Which was not the case here." I said no you are wrong. This is a case of access.

You clearly misunderstand what I mean. It is exactly because this is a question of what level of access needs to be provided that the claim that "certain locations are too politically charged" is irrelevant.

Again you think that university students should get special access to polls.

Misunderstanding of my position again, if not misrepresentation. Beyond stating the obvious (there is nothing nefarious in polling stations on university campus, special polling stations does not constitute special access), I haven't said anything about whether or not there is a need for polling stations on university campuses.

NOW, I am saying something about it... quite frankly, considereing that the election day is right after the end of the school year, there is no need.

That being said, whether or not a special polling station is needed is and should the only criteria in deciding if there will be one. No some far-fetched notion that somehow this puts certain voters at an advantage.

Edited April 18, 2011 by CANADIEN

[Molly]

Exactly. That's what I thought, thanks.

Don't thank her for a load of horsecrap unless you are only interested in citing a source for bizarro world disinformation. Why not look it up yourself?

Start here for the easy read: http://www.elections.ca/content.aspx?section=res&dir=ces&document=part2〈=e#31

and then if you want to check it out without the dumb-down, here's more of the poop: http://www.elections.ca/content.aspx?section=res&dir=loi/fel&document=index〈=e

Track down the news reports that directly address the actual votes on your own, since any that do comment note that they were divided between Guelph and other ridings.

None of it is any special secret.

[scribblet]

Why not let anyone in? This is now becoming ridiculous.

http://www.cknw.com/Channels/Reg/NewsLocal/Story.aspx?ID=1403463

I don't know the whole story, but I have reason to believe that some of these people are just 'plants', it's more than likely that they are known to the organizers.

[punked]

I don't know the whole story, but I have reason to believe that some of these people are just 'plants', it's more than likely that they are known to the organizers.

You can just go to their twitter page. Here is one of the two not let in. Looks to me she is the president of the BC young Liberals. Not that is a reason to exclude her but she is clearly partisan.

http://twitter.com/diamondisinger

Edited April 18, 2011 by punked

[scribblet]

Don't thank her for a load of horsecrap unless you are only interested in citing a source for bizarro world disinformation. Why not look it up yourself?

Start here for the easy read: http://www.elections.ca/content.aspx?section=res&dir=ces&document=part2〈=e#31

Horsecrap yourself. Voters at the special poll have to register and designate where they want their vote to go, those who are national voters and wish to vote in their home riding may elect to do so, but those ballots have to be mailed, and the ballots are blank so they have to write in the name of the candidate. So any ballots in the box are for that riding.

The 'votemob' concept was to get these students organized to vote in that riding as it was a close call the last time.

[scribblet]

You can just go to their twitter page. Here is one of the two not let in. Looks to me she is the president of the BC young Liberals. Not that is a reason to exclude her but she is clearly partisan.

http://twitter.com/diamondisinger

It's becoming an election strategy now. -

[cybercoma]

To the same extent I wouldn't want elections Canada to set up in a Church after a Sunday service. It might get more people to vote but is it the right location for such a thing?

Yet, it's ok for them to set up shop in a Church on Monday morning. I always found that questionable.

Moreover, who said school is by its nature a political place? Don't they setup ballot boxes in elementary schools and high schools around the country? How is a university any different?

One of the articles I read also said this was considered a "special poll" rather than an "advance poll". The former are designed to target populations with traditionally low voter turnout. This is the reason for polls in seniors' homes. I think the youth demographic fits that "traditionally low voter turnout" requirement. Also, when you're stuck in residence on campus, you're firstly, not getting a voter card and secondly, may not have the means to get to a polling station that's "just 10 mins. away".

Keep the damn polling stations. Seriously. People are making assumptions about whom the youth vote for, but I can tell you from experience that there are youth voting for all the parties. Everyone benefits when more people vote.

[Tilter]

How do the Republicans? It is the polls they live in. If your poll is 60% African American and 1 in Ballots are tossed then 9% of the Ballots were tossed ones from African Americans.

I do know that all the voters in Florida voted in Canada, most of the votes would be thrown out

Canada is Canada & doecn't have a Republican Party--- we do however have a new DEMOCRATIC party, and if they won the election & modeled their fiscal policy on Obama's :lol: we would soon also be a few TRILLION dollars in debt

[punked]

Yet, it's ok for them to set up shop in a Church on Monday morning. I always found that questionable.

Moreover, who said school is by its nature a political place? Don't they setup ballot boxes in elementary schools and high schools around the country? How is a university any different?

One of the articles I read also said this was considered a "special poll" rather than an "advance poll". The former are designed to target populations with traditionally low voter turnout. This is the reason for polls in seniors' homes. I think the youth demographic fits that "traditionally low voter turnout" requirement. Also, when you're stuck in residence on campus, you're firstly, not getting a voter card and secondly, may not have the means to get to a polling station that's "just 10 mins. away".

Keep the damn polling stations. Seriously. People are making assumptions about whom the youth vote for, but I can tell you from experience that there are youth voting for all the parties. Everyone benefits when more people vote.

Listen I know it is the American in me talking but this is a question of EQUAL access. The point is there have been many movements about people wanted to be treated the same. At one time "certain" groups of people had to take a test be allowed to vote because other people didn't want their votes counted. This is where the fight for Equal access came from.

It isn't right a certain group of people are provided a different treatment in their voting rights then others. No one sets a special voting place at my place work or where I live because I am to lazy vote, why should they here. These young people have legs, they are in a city take a bus to the elections Canada office in the riding and vote in the advanced polls like everyone else.

Again if you want to treat these voters differently then the rest of us, and you think that is ok then that is your opinion. Personally I would be pissed if they had special polls after Sunday service. There is no reason why these voters should get unequal access to the voting both.

[scribblet]

One of the articles I read also said this was considered a "special poll" rather than an "advance poll". The former are designed to target populations with traditionally low voter turnout. This is the reason for polls in seniors' homes. I think the youth demographic fits that "traditionally low voter turnout" requirement. Also, when you're stuck in residence on campus, you're firstly, not getting a voter card and secondly, may not have the means to get to a polling station that's "just 10 mins. away".

It was a special poll, for which they actually have to register for, they don't need a voter card. They can also go to the returning office anytime and vote there. IMO it didn't require a special poll, I just happen to believe that this was an organized 'votemob' thing attempting to swing the vote for the Liberals.

[cybercoma]

The 'votemob' concept was to get these students organized to vote in that riding as it was a close call the last time.

There have been vote mobs at just about every university in Canada.