Just a thought…
We were practically singing (or was it “signalling?”) in the rain as we emerged into the BC downpour on Saturday from our voting station in North Saanich on provincial Election Day.
First off, yes, we had our voting on a Saturday! I love that, especially for the folks who work Monday to Friday and for whom wedging in time to vote negatively affects their already-busy lives.
Why the skip in our step? Well, there’s a feeling after having voted that I only get after rolling up my sleeve to give blood, or rolling down my sleeve after getting the latest shot to protect my health. Call it virtue-signalling if you like, but it’s far more than that.
For one thing, it’s a nod to our past as women. We have grandmothers who were the first in their lineage to have the right to vote. For another, it’s acknowledgment of other so-called democracies that face erosion and possible moves to fascism with increasingly blatant attempts to stifle the rights of those who can vote. Our system is far from perfect (I’d like to vote directly for the PM, for example, in the next federal election) but it’s the best we’ve got in this country of ours. If that’s more virtue-signalling, so be it.
For the first time, I found myself as somewhat of a quiet activist within my own family. You see, I have two nieces who were ambivalent about casting their votes in their first eligible election cycle; they weren’t “feeling” the candidates and didn’t see one who answered all of their concerns, whether they be trans rights, help for those who can’t afford a place to live, and so on – all legitimate concerns in the 21st century, to be sure.
So I sent impassioned texts urging them both to vote on Saturday and to choose a candidate strategically: find someone most likely to protect or improve those things that are important to you, but who isn’t an outlier (as opposed to an out-and-out liar LOL). Do not support the one and end up eroding the strength of the party that is apt to do the most for your causes. Thus the “chess move.”
Even at our age, we leaned upon friends who had done more research and had voted early. We asked opinions. We didn’t just rely on pundits or predictions. We voted carefully. But most importantly, we voted. I got the sticker, and wore it out like a badge of honour.
There’s far too much at stake, both here and across borders and oceans, not to fulfill our duties as citizens. We can scream to the rooftops “How can it be this close!?!” about the US polls, but if we don’t get out to our own when we get the chance, just what are we signalling, anyway?