Wednesday, January 18, 2006
Massive Voter Turnout?
Voter turnout results are in from the advance polls.
Comparing the results to those from 2004, 25% more people showed up for the advance polls this year. Could this mean that there will be a huge last-minute turnout at the polls? I would suspect that this possibility would make both Stephen Harper, and Paul Martin quiver in their boots.
Stephen Harper will undoubtedly be scared this will lead to a repeat of 2004; when the polls took a leap to the left, mere days before the election.
The Liberal camp has got to be scared that this is the public reacting to the scandal plagued Liberal party. They've gotta be worried that people are just showing up to vote for anybody BUT a Liberal candidate.
I think either way you look at it, the NDP gains an edge from increased voter turnout. The liberal (small L) voters who are disgusted with Martin, are much more likely to turn to the NDP than the Conservatives. Even right-leaning Liberal voters, some of whom will give into their baseless fear of Conservatives; are more likely at this point in the game to turn the NDP, rather than the Liberal party.
When it comes to brass tacks however, higher voter turnout is a good thing for Canadians. Fuck the politicians. If more Canadians are excercising their right to vote, then at least in some ways, we are becoming a more democratic country. This will lead me into my next post, regarding Stephen Harpers most recent comments.
Comparing the results to those from 2004, 25% more people showed up for the advance polls this year. Could this mean that there will be a huge last-minute turnout at the polls? I would suspect that this possibility would make both Stephen Harper, and Paul Martin quiver in their boots.
Stephen Harper will undoubtedly be scared this will lead to a repeat of 2004; when the polls took a leap to the left, mere days before the election.
The Liberal camp has got to be scared that this is the public reacting to the scandal plagued Liberal party. They've gotta be worried that people are just showing up to vote for anybody BUT a Liberal candidate.
I think either way you look at it, the NDP gains an edge from increased voter turnout. The liberal (small L) voters who are disgusted with Martin, are much more likely to turn to the NDP than the Conservatives. Even right-leaning Liberal voters, some of whom will give into their baseless fear of Conservatives; are more likely at this point in the game to turn the NDP, rather than the Liberal party.
When it comes to brass tacks however, higher voter turnout is a good thing for Canadians. Fuck the politicians. If more Canadians are excercising their right to vote, then at least in some ways, we are becoming a more democratic country. This will lead me into my next post, regarding Stephen Harpers most recent comments.
