“UNPAC’s Helpful Election Primers”
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10 WAYS TO GET INVOLVED IN THE ELECTION:
An election is coming! Pre-election promises are appearing in the newspapers and on the radio every day, candidates are knocking on doors and signs are going up on boulevards and front lawns. Elections are a major part of our democratic system. It is our right and responsibility as citizens to get involved. So how can you get involved?
- Learn about the issues
Read the newspaper, listen to the radio, watch the evening news and learn all you can about the issues being debated in the pre-election buzz. If you don’t understand, find someone who does and ask them what it all means. - Talk with your neighbours, friends, and community
Talk with others about what you’re hearing. Share your opinions and listen to theirs. Democracy is about debate — whether within the government or among citizens. One idea is to organize a discussion group among your friends and colleagues to talk about the issues being brought forward in the media — and, as importantly, those that are not being brought forward. - Ask your candidates questions
When you meet your candidates on your own door step or at a public meeting, take time to ask them about their plans to improve life in your community. Have a list of questions ready (See “10 questions to ask your candidates”). You can ask them about whatever issue is most important to you. They want your vote so now is the time to engage them. - Make your priorities heard
Write a letter to the editor of your local paper (be sure to include your name, address and phone number so they can confirm that you’re a real person or they won’t print it) voicing your election priorities. Your views will get others thinking and debating the issues. If you can, include something about your own personal experience and why the issue is important to you as well as some key facts and statistics. - Attend an election forum
Attend an election forum to learn more about the issues. Take the opportunity to ask the candidates questions about the issues that matter to you. - Organize an election forum
Work with a community organization to organize an all-candidates forum that will provide a venue for people in your community to debate the issues (See our election primer on “Organizing an Election Forum” for details on how to do this). - Vote!
Make time to vote. This is your chance to choose who you want to represent your community for the next few years. Find out where your polling station is and, if you’re not registered, bring some ID with you. (Call in advance if you can to find out what pieces of identification you need).If you need a ride or help with childcare let your candidates know. Also, it is law for employers to give employees time off to vote.
- Volunteer
Pick a candidate who you feel represents your concerns and volunteer to help him/her out with his/her campaign. Candidates are always looking for people to help them out by making phone calls, going door-to-door, staffing the campaign headquarters, delivering signs, etc. You will learn a lot from this process. - Run for office yourself
It may be too late to run for office in this election but consider this as something you may want to do in the future. Talk with people in your community who have run for the first time and ask them about the process and their experiences. - Meet with your newly-elected representative
Remember that even if you didn’t vote for him/her your new elected representative is responsible for representing ALL of his/her constituents. Make time to meet with him/her after the election and let him/her know what issues are important for you.
An Election Primer by UNPAC Manitoba, April 2007.
For more information, contact (204) 772-7876 or project@unpac.ca or visit www.unpac.ca