I really have no real right to pass judgement on our recent municipal elections. But that rarely stops me from commenting, so please bear with me. I will attempt to be brief and straightforward. Not at all roundabout, as some locals might say.
“What a logistical miracle!” I recently rambled, heaping encomiums on the incredible folks who are in charge of the thousands and thousands of details involved in administering fair and honest elections when we are called to the polls.
It used to be complicated enough, and now we also have voting by mail and advance voting. What next? Perhaps verbal voting, or voice voting? Yes, my friends, the mind boggles. And I am not shy to proudly say I voted, on voting day, at an actual, old-fashioned polling station.
Across the province, so many lists of candidates, all listed alphabetically and spelled accurately.
We again showed up to vote in relatively high numbers. Somewhat over 50 per cent of us voted, so a hearty “way to go” to the Niagara-on-the-Lake populace. Still low, but high compared to other Ontarians. Yes, Ontarians, not Ontarions. (Trust me on this very obscure spelling fact.)
So here I am rambling near a subject near and dear to my heart. And earlier today, I did some research on term limits for elected officials. Talk about expanding one’s horizons and knowledge base.
A country near us, Mexico, certainly provides interesting reading, and has such an interesting collection of term limit laws and regulations.
For example, the President of the United Mexican States serves a single six-year term, called a sexenio, and there is a strict constitutional ban on re-election. Different levels of government have different term limits and rules. This would be a fascinating ramblings on its own, but let’s leave it for another day.
Now to Australia in the antipodes, and another democratic principle I have studied over the years: should it be mandatory to vote?
Since 1924, it has been compulsory for Australians over the age of 18 to vote. More accurately, they also have the option to submit a blank ballot, or mark “none of the above.” But at least they have to give it some thought.
For their most recent federal election, they had a 91 per cent voter turnout. There is a fine of about 20 bucks if you don’t at least register at a polling station.
Typically, elections are held on a Saturday, and sometimes they make it fun. Perhaps a bouncy castle, or pony rides. Who knew?
This is interesting thinking from Down Under. There is so much unique about Australia and New Zealand, including the history of the transportation system that certainly was a dominant influence on the settling of that part of the world.
Not that long ago, and so dramatically different than our history. But so many similarities in the histories of treatment of the people who were there when colonizers arrived. In Canada, too.
If you feel the need for some real bureaucratic reading, have a gander at our Canadian Charter of Rights, on the pages detailing voting. I tried my best several times, and would like to again express my absolute amazement at the efficiency of our recent municipal vote.
In so many places at the same time, and they don’t get a series of practice days to “get it right.”
And I really cannot understand how the election results can be tallied and reported so quickly. Really, my friends, give it some thought. Here in our wee geographic area we have several polling stations, and the aforementioned multiple voting choices. Somehow, by about 8 p.m. or 8:30, the results are being posted. The suspense is essentially over.
The only quicker scorekeeper in town is Adam Dodridge during a local Darts league Tuesday evening. He loves the job, and brings his own score calculator on top of his extremely broad shoulders. He tells me he is always right.
Back to the recent election. So democratically classic, with so many contributors.
Fair forums to evaluate the candidates, obeyance of the rules, and demonstrated fairness and respect.
One quick question: where did all the election signs go? Poof.
Rambling to a close this week, “If you lose, say little. If you win, say less.”
