Conservative leader says all Canadians deserve to have their voices heard
OTTAWA – In response to declining voter turnout, Conservative leader Stephen Harper today cast his special ballot to raise awareness for voting options in an effort to encourage more Canadians to vote.
Canada has witnessed a troubling decline in voter turnout over the last two decades. Since 1993, voter turnout in Canada has plummeted from nearly 70 percent of eligible voters to only 60.9 percent in the 2004 federal election campaign.
“People today lead busy lives,” said Harper. “If people leave voting until the actual election day, they often run the risk of having work or family commitments prevent them from making it to the polls.”
Harper said there are a number of ways for people to vote in advance, including mail-back special ballot, by going into your local returning office or by voting during the advance polling days. “It is important to know that by mailing in your special ballot, you can make your vote count in your local electoral district even if you are temporarily away from home or even out of the country.”
Harper, who put his ballot in the mail, broke with tradition. Party leaders normally vote on election day along with the majority of Canadians who cast their ballots. “The declining turnout in our country must be addressed, and one way to do this is to encourage more Canadians to exercise the voting options that provide them with much needed flexibility.”
“Every day between now and January 23rd is voting day,” said Harper. “I would like to encourage all Canadians who will be unable to make it to the polls on election day to vote by special ballot or during the advance polling days.”
To be eligible to vote by special ballot Canadians must register with Elections Canada by 6 pm on January 17th. For more information on voting by special ballot or to find the nearest advance voting location, please call 1-800-463-6868 or go online at:
www.elections.ca
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For further information: Conservative Party Press Office (613) 755-2191
