Workbook Page 39
Step 1 - Decide Who to Vote For
In national and provincial elections with political parties, it is more important to know each party's platform than to know about the candidates. If elected, MPs and MLAs mainly vote the same as others in their party.
Check out the party platform by looking at
- What party leaders say in the newspapers, TV, radio and social media (Facebook or Twitter)
- Party websites and brochures
- Candidate websites and brochures
- The CBC Vote Compass website. This site has a survey that compares what the parties say on important issues. For each issue, you pick the ideas most like your own. At the end the survey tells you which party thinks most like you.
In municipal elections, it is important to know what each candidate thinks about the important issues. Look at what the candidates say in the news and in their campaign brochures, and on their websites and social media.
Pick the party or candidate in your area that you agree with most on the issues that are important to you.
Step 2 - Vote in the Elections
To find out what you must do in order to vote, look at- www.elections.ca for a Canadian election
- www.elections.ab for an Alberta election
http://www.elections.ca/vot/spe/wmvs/ASL_voting_overview_09.07.09.mpg
This web page also has information to help voters with disabilities:
http://www.elections.ca/content.aspx?section=vot&dir=spe&document=index&lang=e.
Things to Remember
- You can vote three ways: advance poll, election day poll, or by special ballot.
- You must bring I.D. that proves who you are and where you live.
- You can get help to read the ballot.
