People who don’t vote in elections shouldn’t complain
By Lethbridge Herald on November 7, 2024.
Editor:
Both my parents came to Canada from a war torn country after the Second World War. My dad was a veteran, shot, captured, tattooed and placed in a concentration camp.
To this day I still don’t know how he survived and was released.
My mother, on one occasion, talked of the Nazis coming into church with machine guns. Much of what they experienced was never talked about in their new country, Canada.
There was no pension, employment insurance or any social programs available when they arrived in Canada.
They worked, usually two jobs, fed and educated their kids. And never complained of their conditions or their new country.
Life was good. Voting day for them was a ritual and an honour. Every election day, no matter what level of government was to be voted for, they would put on their best clothes, go to the polling booths and vote.
The small community they lived in had mostly immigrants coming from countries that had regimes or dictatorships for government. I think the voter turnout was always near 100 per cent.
I was dismayed when I read the Herald’s Al Beeber in his weekly column stating that he will not vote in the West Lethbridge by-election. I understand that reporters, writers and editors want to show impartiality in their columns but there are thousands who do exercise their right to vote without compromising their impartiality. It is, after all, a secret ballot.
And even if one chooses to spoil their ballot because they don’t like any of the options they have still exercised their democratic right to vote.
We live in a democracy. Everyone over 18 years old has the opportunity to vote for the person or party they think is the best option.
When we choose not to exercise our freedom to select who should govern us we could soon find ourselves living under a dictatorship.
Which is exactly the nightmare that caused thousands of immigrants to leave their home countries behind.
Those who don’t vote ought not to complain.
Stan Adamus
Lethbridge
17-16
Agree!