One of the things I learned about leading up to the decision to allow my name to stand for the privilege of serving my community as Councillor for North Cowichan is the dismally low voter turnout in the last municipal election of November 2008.
North Cowichan voter turn out was around 29%. Less than 1/3 of the people chose the people that would represent them and their concerns for the three year municipal term.
That sadly wasn't too surprising. What really surprised me was that voter turn out in Lake Cowichan was about 70%! That's right folks, they beat us by 40%!
Lake Cowichan folks vote for the same candidates for School Trustee as we do here in North Cowichan, because the School Board represents the Cowichan Valley from Chemainus to Shawnigan and west to Lake Cowichan. But of course Lake Cowichan has it's own municipal government made up of mayor and councillors.
I used to belong to a group that liked to 'vie' for top spot. It was a fun and friendly competition to see who could get the most participation.
What would it take for us to get to 70% of eligible voters getting out and voting?
At my campaign meeting the other night, the suggestion from a seasoned politician was the 'each one tell five' maxim.
It works like this - if each of us encourage five people to get out and vote - and each of them encouraged five and so on, it could get pretty amazing.
I've already encouraged more than five. :-) And I'll keep it up. Hope you'll join me.
And good news, we only have to vote for the people we really want to see elected. Even if it's only 1 or 2. It's called plumping and it's perfectly legal.
North Cowichan voter turn out was around 29%. Less than 1/3 of the people chose the people that would represent them and their concerns for the three year municipal term.
That sadly wasn't too surprising. What really surprised me was that voter turn out in Lake Cowichan was about 70%! That's right folks, they beat us by 40%!
Lake Cowichan folks vote for the same candidates for School Trustee as we do here in North Cowichan, because the School Board represents the Cowichan Valley from Chemainus to Shawnigan and west to Lake Cowichan. But of course Lake Cowichan has it's own municipal government made up of mayor and councillors.
I used to belong to a group that liked to 'vie' for top spot. It was a fun and friendly competition to see who could get the most participation.
What would it take for us to get to 70% of eligible voters getting out and voting?
At my campaign meeting the other night, the suggestion from a seasoned politician was the 'each one tell five' maxim.
It works like this - if each of us encourage five people to get out and vote - and each of them encouraged five and so on, it could get pretty amazing.
I've already encouraged more than five. :-) And I'll keep it up. Hope you'll join me.
And good news, we only have to vote for the people we really want to see elected. Even if it's only 1 or 2. It's called plumping and it's perfectly legal.
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