Voting Breakdown – Federal Election 2011
| 15 minutes | Study your candidates and their parties. |
| 5 minutes | Make a phone call to a local candidate and connect on an issue that is important to you. |
| 5 minutes | Check your notice of registration and confirm your polling station. |
| 35 minutes | Make your way to a polling station and choose your best candidate. |
| = 1 hour | It only takes 1 hour to take a stand for change. |
Important Facts about Voting in Canada:
• You must be 18 years of age, on or before decision day.
• You must be a Citizen of Canada.
Some Suggestions on Political Involvement:
• Find out who is running in your district. Here are some websites to check out:
- www.elections.ca
- www.conservative.ca
- www.liberal.ca
- www.ndp.ca/home
- www.blocquebecois.org
• Once you know who is running, you may choose to attend what is called an “all candidates meeting”. Here you will develop an understanding of your candidate’s platform. Call the election office of one of the candidates and they will be happy to tell you when these meetings are taking place.
• Be willing to meet with your local candidates about issues that are important to you. Here are some guidelines:
- Identify yourself as a registered voter in their riding.
- Priests, Pastors, Ministers, etc. appoint a member of your congregation to meet with local candidates and communicate to them that he or she represents a group or fellowship of [X] number of people.
- Be brief. You should be able to communicate everything that needs to be said in less than 30 minutes.
- Avoid putting them in situations that will cause them to shut the door to you in the future.
- Leave your contact information with the candidate along with any material that you would like them to consider.
- Once the election has been decided, be sure to send thank you notes to all of the candidates who participated in your riding. Congratulate the winner and thank the others for participating in democracy.
