I’m glad that’s (not) over
A graduate of the University of Toronto, Trevor Hutchinson is a songwriter, writer and bookkeeper. He serves as Contributing Editor at The Lindsay Advocate. He lives with his fiancee and their five kids in Lindsay.
I chose to vote on the first day of advance polling on Good Friday last month. My plan was brilliant: I would pop into the polling place (in my case, the Lindsay Curling Club), quickly do my civic duty and then go to work for a few hours of uninterrupted bliss.
I got to my station and was quickly able to see that I was not alone. The lineup was out the door, like the music clubs I used to attend so long ago. And like those lineups of old, rainy weather wasn’t deterring me or anyone else. It turns out that all of us there were part of a new Canadian record that saw more than two million Canadians voting on the first day of advance polls.
The whole experience was just so…. pleasant. And polite. On account of some (hopefully temporary) mobility issues, the hour in line was a little challenging. At least four of the very polite Elections Canada staff members (locals, all) offered me a chair to rest.
So as the not-20-year-old me wobbled in the voting line, I found myself feeling really good. Of the 60-odd people in line, I only knew how one of them was likely to vote. My happiness wasn’t about party, it was about country. I’m sure others in my line felt the same. I was actually enjoying the whole process, if only because of the privilege of it.
According to Freedom House, the oldest American centre for the support and defence of democracy, only 20 per cent of the world population was living in a free country, by their long-established methodology. How did Canada do you may ask? We finished tied for third in a list of 10 countries such as Ireland, Sweden and New Zealand. Sadly, however, Canada achieved this in a world where the freedom index showed a 19th consecutive decline in world-wide freedom.
For we lucky few, democracy and freedom are not static nor some God-given forever-place. They are ways of living communally, protected by a rule of law, the separation of state and religious power, the freedom of press and religion and a robust and impartial legal system, to name just a few attributes. And most importantly democracy and freedom must constantly be protected and improved upon, through due process.
And there’s always room for improvement. Myself, I would wish for the return of two election workers at the table where you get your ballot. And I’d love every local candidate at the start of a campaign to jointly declare that destruction of election materials is against the law and to urge their supporters to practice civility when debating online or in the public square. I’d also like to see this joint declaration re-released during the campaign, as necessary.
As a Ward 5 resident, last month marked my third election since late February.
I’m sure glad that’s (not) over.
I too enjoy voting for the sheer privilege of it. Freedom is precious.
Ditto – Advanced poll, Sunday, Curling Club lined up, happy to have a chair to wait. Two poll workers per poll desk would have made it better. Thankfull that we can have a very civilized voting process, and that our use of paper and pencil doesnt entrap us in fear of magic digital conspiracies. Although the pencil vs pen ballot marking conspiracy did try to get us worked up, but didnt.