The Importance of Voting in Canadian Elections

Always ALWAYS ALWAYS VOTE

If everyone says, “Eh why should I vote,” then no one will vote, and democracy will be eroded. Vote as you please, but please for the love of god, vote.

Choosing Your Candidate

When it comes to choosing a candidate for the next election, you should vote for the one who best represents your values and views. Don’t vote for someone whose views clash with yours, hoping that their victory might result in a positive outcome. It’s your responsibility to make an informed decision that aligns with your own beliefs.

Voting as a Civic Duty

I generally do not advise people whom they vote for. If you listen to me, then you would listen to anyone. The decision of whom to vote for should be your own and yours only, no matter who says what. There are certain things in life that we have to do ourselves, regardless of others’ opinions. Voting is one of them. You may listen to all but the final call should be yours, uninfluenced and based on merit.

This could be a tough call for some, but it’s essential for democracy to be kicking and successful. Forming our own opinions is very important. And to form our own opinions, we must get educated and start thinking deeply. This is what we are lacking, and it is why the political parties are exploiting us. We are privileged to be born in a free and democratic country such as Canada. Unless we do conscious voting, we will be wasting this privilege and will be doomed.

A Historical Perspective

The fact that we are being ruled by half-educated, illiterate, and criminal leaders is due to our own negligence. In the early twentieth century, when India fought for freedom, most of our leaders, even the state-level leaders, were highly educated. People chose their leaders carefully, even though there was no voting system. An illiterate India made no mistakes and chose highly qualified leaders.

But after 76 years of independence, we are still electing half-educated and illiterate people. This is a significant irony. A literate India is electing leaders with less education. Let’s take the example of Lal Bahadur Shastri. He was an ordinary-looking dhoti-clad Indian leader who gave a befitting reply to Pakistan in the 1965 war. He wasn’t cowered down nor did he shoot his mouth big gun. He did what he was supposed to with surgical precision and didn’t take credit for the victory. What was extraordinary about him was his nerve of steel, courage, principles, and benevolence—true lion-hearted.

Educating Yourself for Conscious Voting

Don’t fall for the gimmicks or the show-offs. Don’t give concessions, grace marks on education, nor give extra marks on looks or family lineage. But do not cut marks just because someone comes from a good lineage. Rather, lineage could mean good DNA. Treat people on one scale. Do not elect someone just because they are from your caste community or religion, or just because someone promises to build a temple, mosque, or church. Quite often, we vote for people just because they have promised to give more freebies.

Nothing comes for free. The freedom we gained in India didn’t come without a price. So, let us not elect the undeserving candidates just because they are promising more freebies. Every vote we cast is a payment we make for the benefits we receive. The first payment you have to make is by voting, and later, they may take out many more. So, let us make conscious and well-informed choices as voters in Canada.