Chances are this isn’t the first opinion column you’ve read on the importance of voting, and it almost certainly won’t the last.
The Town of Westlock is hosting its municipal byelection Jan. 10 (the day after this paper publishes) and there’s seven candidates for the two spots. Voters will have to elect one of two candidates to be their new mayor, and one of five for the remaining council seat.
Let’s be clear — there’s nothing sexy about municipal politics. Town councillors deal with snow removal, garbage pickup, and development permitting. Outside of Calgary and Edmonton, they don’t pull in six-figure salaries, and they give up evenings, vacation days, and weekends to get the job done. They’re also the elected officials that have the biggest impact on daily life.
Historically, municipal elections draw the smallest turnout. According to a 2022 StatsCan poll that looked at sociodemographic voter characteristics, municipal elections drew the smallest turnout across all categories, without exception.
For a democracy to function, people need to vote, and they need to vote responsibly. That means knowing who’s running in the election, what they stand for, and what they say they’re going to do if they win. Our job as journalists is to give you that information. Our team in Westlock has talked to each candidate, asking them questions like “why are you running?” and “what’s your past experience?” Some candidates have served on council before, while others are newcomers to the political sphere.
Once you have that information, how you vote is up to you. As a citizen, it’s your job to decide who represents your values and your vision for your community best, and no one else has a say in that. Having said that, as a citizen it’s also your job to vote. As the saying goes, if you don’t vote, you can’t complain afterwards.
So, when the polls open Jan. 10, make sure you’ve slotted a few minutes out of your day to put a checkmark beside your favoured candidate. If you don’t like any of them, write in your own or draw a smiley face on the side of the ballot.
It doesn’t matter who you vote for, as long as you vote.
