OrilliaMatters welcomes letters to the editor at [email protected]. Please include your daytime phone number and address (for verification of authorship, not publication). The following letter is in regard to local politics.
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Municipal elections are over and the new councils will be sworn in soon. It is again the time when many writers lament the low voter participation rates and debate the cause of this disinterest. Here is one more comment on the subject.
Changing the mechanics of voting will not dramatically change the participation rate. In most municipalities it makes little difference if in-person, phone, mail-in, electronic, or a combination of these is used for voting.
Some local controversy will help for one election but that is something that cannot be relied on for a higher participation rate. This writer’s suggestion is that it take a cultural shift to significantly increase electoral participation anything else will be unsuccessful.
“Social small talk” is the culture that has to change. In Ontario it is acceptable to talk weather, sports and similar events at the water cooler or morning coffee break but one gets a funny look and no response if one mentions local politics the day after a local council meeting.
People have to start talking about what happens at council through the whole term and not just at election time. Just complaining about lack of service is common but it is not what I am talking about here.
People have to discuss who voted for or against something and what alternative exists to the action taken by council. Such interest and discussion over the entire four-year term will convert to more participation at election time.
So if you want to encourage more democracy in your municipality, get away from talking weather and be not afraid to bring up your council’s action.
Konrad Brenner
Ramara
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