How do you decide how to vote in Federal Elections?

[August1991]

Given that people who post here are likely a biased group of Canadians (English speaking, interested in politics, Westerners), how do you choose how to vote in a federal election?

If I had a better mind, I'd design a forum poll to capture this question better. Instead, I simply create the thread - and ask people to post, answer and maybe explain.

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For me, in Quebec, this is a complex question. I prefer a much smaller federal government, but I think government matters. I fear the size of the Quebec State.

[August1991]

I fear that in Quebec, and the Rest of Canada (ROC), people choose according to "Teams".

If you're Anglo, you vote B. If you're Catholic, you vote A. If you use Apple Mac Book Pro, you vote C.

Unlike Trudeau in 1968, Ignatieff was simply not cool in 2008. This explains Ignatieff's defeat. Obama, OTOH, is cool.

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Do people vote according to what is cool? Teams?

Ronald Reagan was an old wrinkly guy in 1980, and Margaret Thatcher was a woman in 1975.

Edited April 1, 2012 by August1991

[MACKER]

1. person shares my views on important issues: civil liberties, human rights, administration of justice.

2. I trust the person to protect my interests

3. they have a mechanism which allows communication between us.

It is on secondary issues that are not important for the vote if the first three are there.

However, anyone who is on the same page as me should generally have the same views as me for the secondary issues, more or less even if the exact application is not the same, the intent and direction ought be.

Bearing this generally only people with whole libertarian views would ever get my vote because they are on the same page for civil liberties and justice issues. Now bearing that there are many types of libertarians but the basic principle is that individuals should not be subject to the state except for capital offences, otherwise it should be left to civil arbitration. Issues such as mental health would be fully voluntary if no capital crime was committed. There would be no insanity pleas, and court diversions would not exist, either would involuntary committals, whether for political reasons, personal vendetta or antisocial behaviours.

The bottom line is that people should be free to do as they please if they are not violating the law. We don't need totalitarian fascist government that currently exists to subject people to their values.

We must end all suppression and oppression of lawful citizens, and if a politician doesn't support that, they don't have my vote.

We don't need totalitarians running government or making our laws.

Edited April 1, 2012 by MACKER

[dre]

I dont vote and I wont until theres someone worthy of my vote. Id vote for a party that I believed was serious about widespread political reform, and economic reform... But there isnt one.

[Jerry J. Fortin]

Given that people who post here are likely a biased group of Canadians (English speaking, interested in politics, Westerners), how do you choose how to vote in a federal election?

If I had a better mind, I'd design a forum poll to capture this question better. Instead, I simply create the thread - and ask people to post, answer and maybe explain.

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For me, in Quebec, this is a complex question. I prefer a much smaller federal government, but I think government matters. I fear the size of the Quebec State.

Strangely enough out here in Alberta we are as isolated as Quebec. From my own perspective I tend to agree with you about the size of government. Implementing democracy over an expanse the size of Canada is a daunting task. Perhaps a task that the current round of politicians are incapable of accomplishing. On a person by person basis, from a western perspective, we tend to disapprove of the appointed Senate, disapprove of the equalization formulas, disapprove of fiscal imbalances at the federal level, and particularly in Alberta folks do not like the federal debt load. For an Albertan to figure out that when more of their tax dollars are leaving the province than coming back, is to be saddled with an additional federal debt burden on a per capita basis! We have no provincial debt, even with the last couple of years in a budget deficit position we never went back into debt.

From an Albertans perspective, at least this Albertan, the question of how do we choose to vote in a federal election is simple, we side with other Albertans against the wishes of Ottawa. At least that is what we used to say when the Conservatives were not in power. With a majority conservative government, we are far more circumspect with our political views. Ottawa has become a front for our interests. That is not idle boast, it is a fact. Money talks, bullshit walks. The former industrial heartland of Canada, that Hamilton to Montreal corridor, is currently in a state of disarray. Most foreign investment is in the west and the north. Domestic investment is another story, and a far smaller story than most Canadians really know. Its only the banks and not private ventures from the east that are investing out west at all. This is the land of black gold and foreign capital. We vote to preserve our interests. Folks in eastern Canada should know all about that.

[Smallc]

Strangely enough out here in Alberta we are as isolated as Quebec.

You're both so hard done by.

I pick the candidate from the part that I think will do the best job of managing the country. That's it.

[August1991]

From an Albertans perspective, at least this Albertan, the question of how do we choose to vote in a federal election is simple, we side with other Albertans against the wishes of Ottawa.

You honestly answered my question. And may I say, this is the Canada I know too.

Note to sovereignists: It works. Imagine!

Edited April 1, 2012 by August1991

[stopstaaron]

whoever robocalls me less

Whichever party annoys me the less

Ennie minnie miney mo

Rock, paper, scissors, lizard, spock

[August1991]

whoever robocalls me less

Whichever party annoys me the less

Ennie minnie miney mo

Rock, paper, scissors, lizard, spock

True, one vote changes nothing - even if we had a PR system.

[Argus]

Within the general understanding of the importance of election platforms, and my assessment of their logic and value to the country as a whole I choose on my perception of the sorts of things the party isn't talking about but will likely also implement if in power. For example, the tories have never put anything much about immigration in their platforms, but my general perception is that they would attempt to modify and restructure it so as to let in fewer criminals and deadbeats. The NDP are unlikely to mention affirmative action in a future campaign but I have little doubt we'd be seeing a notable effort at forcing both governments and private employers to hire according to race. The Liberals don't mention how much graft and corruption they'll engage in but I generally figure that's their thing, so if they get in there'll be a lot of it.

On top of that is my perception of the intelligence, ability, integrity and common sense of the leader, and how much he and his party share in my values and vision for the country.

[Guest Peeves]

I go by a Coyne...Andrew Coyne.

Reading his take is one factor in my vote. The other is the leader and the platform they run on.The later makes little sense as usually they lie...as in McGuinty.

[WLDB]

I go by a Coyne...Andrew Coyne.

Not a bad way to go. He goes after everyone at some point.

I look at the platforms of the major parties then go see each of the local candidates speak/debate. I tend to go with the candidate I like the most. I've never voted for someone I haven't met or seen.

The leader of the party, while important isnt the be all end all for me.

[WLDB]

True, one vote changes nothing - even if we had a PR system.

Well, unless a candidate wins by one vote. Ive seen some win by a single digit number of votes so they can be important.

Only 1-2% shift in popular vote tends to change things. It'd be interesting to see what would happen if our voter turnout took a big jump from around 60 to 70 or 75%.

[Newfoundlander]

Only one candidate in my riding was half decent, even though he belonged to the worst party I voted for him.

[capricorn]

As a starry-eyed twenty something, I got swept up in Trudeaumania so had voted Liberal since those days. It helped that Trudeau laid the groundwork for pay and benefits increases I simply couldn't vote against. Later on, I recoiled from the Liberals when Shawinigate and Adscam came to light. Lucky for me the right united which provided me an alternative I could live with. So far, I don't see anything in the window to make me change my vote. One thing I know for sure, I will never vote for the NDP mainly for two reasons. They're just too anti-business and pro-union. Also, I fear the NDP would embark in unaffordable social engineering programs that would set the country back. Hopefully, the Liberals will get their act together to provide me an alternative before the Conservatives do themselves in. If the Liberals don't come through at the appropriate time, I'll simply withhold my vote and withdraw from political commentary.

[bleeding heart]

I'll simply withhold my vote and withdraw from political commentary.

No, no need to punish MLW with your absence.

Those who choose not to vote still get their say (some people disagree with me on that...but I disagree with them!).

[cybercoma]

I look for the candidate with NDP next to his or her name and put an X in the circle next to his/her name.

[bleeding heart]

I look for the candidate with NDP next to his or her name and put an X in the circle next to his/her name.

And in NB, yet!

[Jack Weber]

No, no need to punish MLW with your absence.

Those who choose not to vote still get their say (some people disagree with me on that...but I disagree with them!).

If you choose not to choose you still have made a choice...

[TimG]

Choose the party platform best meets the following objectives:

1) Reduces the role of government in society;

2) Works towards a balanced budget;

3) Has a chance of winning government;

If the best match has been in power too long I vote for the second best because democracies need a regular house cleaning.

I don't worry about scandals, broken promises or anything else that gets the chattering classes upset because all parties are the same on that front.

Edited April 1, 2012 by TimG

[capricorn]

If you choose not to choose you still have made a choice...

By not voting, only then would I know how it feels to be among the 65% of Canadians who didn't vote for the winning party.

[-TSS-]

At the time of your last election last year we had reports how the party-affilitions among the Canadian voters can change very quickly. I noted that the reports were suggesting that Canadians are somehow whimsical or fickle because they don't vote for the same party in every election. I think that is just gross. As if voting for the same party all through your adulthood makes you a mature person.

[cybercoma]

At the time of your last election last year we had reports how the party-affilitions among the Canadian voters can change very quickly. I noted that the reports were suggesting that Canadians are somehow whimsical or fickle because they don't vote for the same party in every election. I think that is just gross. As if voting for the same party all through your adulthood makes you a mature person.

It's gross to vote for different parties? Or its gross not voting for different partie?

[bleeding heart]

It's gross to vote for different parties? Or its gross not voting for different partie?

I think he means that automatic, habitual partisanship is gross.

[cybercoma]

I think he means that automatic, habitual partisanship is gross.

In blind partisanship, sure. Like the kind where you can't even criticize the politicians in your party because they're on the same "team." However, I like to think that people vote for the party that best represents their values. Politicians change, voters change, heck even parties change, so I can see changing your vote in that sense. However, if I continue to vote for a particular party, it's because they have a vision for Canada that I agree with the most. I can't see those things changing every single election though.