FleaInNYCbanner.jpg

? If you want my cynicism you will have to take it from my cold dead hands | Main | Shania Twain: That don't impress me much ?

October 14, 2008

Edible Ballot Society

I had been planning to make a trip to my local polling station today to carry out one of my favourite hypothetical rituals, refusing a ballot. Having voted for Elvis some time ago, I decided it was time to move beyond producing spoiled ballots and to effectively vote none of the above. Thanks to David Warren, I now understand this is not an option. At least I am not alone in having confused Ontario provincial election law with the Canadian federal equivalent; most polling officials would not have a clue the practice exists anywhere (hat tip to the Parental Units of the Flea and to Five Feet of Fury).

I would ... explain that as returning officer, he should have a little book in which to inscribe my name, as that of an elector who has returned his ballot, so that my vote cannot possibly be confused with a spoiled ballot. Moreover, I would explain, tediously if necessary, that the matter was important because, as I understood, if there were a plurality of returned ballots in any riding, no winner could be declared. A byelection would have to be called, in which none of the previous candidates would be allowed to run again.

The idea of an aroused citizenry, forcing one byelection after another, in riding after riding, until the parties agree to run some plausible candidates, deeply appeals to me. Better yet, I should like to see a Parliament emerge with, say, five Conservatives, three Liberals, two New Democrats, and 298 independents.

God, yes. Let us change the law at once. I expect Stephen Harper will get to it as soon as we have a Triple E Senate and the GST is repealed. Once we may legally refuse ballots, I have a further request aspiration demand, viz the right to eat my ballot (admit it: you want to as well).

Failing that, Elections Canada might have the courtesy to include a note on their website to the effect Canadians do not have the right to formally refuse their vote. Don't count on it happening any sooner than conservative reforms from our ersatz Conservative party; too many bums are keeping their seats warms in federal offices to encourage the electorate to get off theirs and do something about it.

Posted by Ghost of a flea at October 14, 2008 07:17 AM