Sunday September 1, 2024 | LANGFORD, BC
Editorial by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
In the upcoming BC provincial election voters may find themselves struggling with a common challenge at election time — whether to vote for the candidate or the party.
Voters sometime forget that the leader of the party is who will set the tone for government if his or her party is elected with a majority or functional minority but that the MLA they elect in their own riding is whose name they will see on the ballot.
Many voters already have their choice carved in stone. They are loyal either to a party or a philosophy that keeps their voting action in the same lane.
It’s the so-called independent voters that every election result — if not democracy itself — relies upon with great importance.
Independent voters are folks who might vote one way at a certain time and another way at other times. To call them swing voters is rather disrespectful as it implies there are only two parties worthy of forming government.
The independent voters are those who consider all their options with every election. They will be looking first at their local candidate for MLA — the one whose name will be on the ballot. Then they’ll look at the parties and their leaders as a refining factor.
These voters (and hopefully all voters) take a careful look at the issues of concern in their own electoral area as well as the region and province as a whole.
- Which candidate can best represent your views on those issues and which party is likely to act on any good ideas that come forward, keeping economic and political realities in mind?
- Which party leader as Premier would make you proud?
- What are your red lines (things you can’t accept)?
Taking time to sort all this out with each election is the work of being a responsible citizen.
The official BC election campaign period starts September 21 but there already may be opportunities to meet your local candidates in person.
Advance voting will be available October 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, and 16. Vote-by-mail packages are available until 4 pm on final voting day (return by 8 pm). Election day is Saturday October 19. Save the date.
“Vote for the candidate or the party” was first published on page 2 in the August 23, 2024 print/PDF edition of Island Social Trends.
