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The importance of getting out to vote

We’re now officially in election mode in Saskatchewan. The provincial election has been called; we’ll be going to the polls Oct. 26.

We’re now officially in election mode in Saskatchewan. 

The provincial election has been called; we’ll be going to the polls Oct. 26. Less than two weeks later, we’ll vote again in the civic election, with the names of municipal and school board candidates on the ballot. 

For the provincial election, this constituency has been a Saskatchewan Party stronghold since 1999. Most expect Lori Carr of the Saskatchewan Party to win a second term, and most expect the Saskatchewan Party to win a fourth consecutive majority government, and in a lopsided fashion. 

But those two things will only happen if they get their supporters out to vote.

You don’t get elected as an MLA, or as government, by doing nothing. While Carr might be the favourite for Estevan, there are three candidates – Seth Lendrum of the New Democratic Party, Linda Sopp of the Progressive Conservatives and Phil Zajac of the Buffalo Party – who are also on the ballot and would be eager to take her spot as this constituency’s representative in the Saskatchewan Legislature. 

And you can bet the NDP – which for most of this province’s history was regarded as its natural governing party – would love to be the government again for the fir3st time since 2007.  

In the end, it’s going to be incumbent on the candidates to work hard and campaign harder over the next few weeks. Even if they’re not expected to win, they still need to do a candidate’s work. Their supporters, and the people of this constituency, deserve candidates who are working hard, rather than serving as token candidates.

And so it’s important for all of the candidates to mobilize their support and get their voters to the polling station. The candidate who takes victory for granted suddenly finds themselves in a dog fight. And it’s not a rare situation for a cabinet minister or for a leader of a top party to get defeated. 

It’s also important for all of us to make reasoned and informed decisions with our vote. Don’t vote for a candidate just because of the party they represent, or because your family has always voted for that party, or because the candidate said something funny in the candidate’s forum. 

Vote for the candidate who you believe will do the best job of representing the needs of the constituency in 2020, or whose belief best aligns with yours.  

A lot of what’s been said will also apply to the civic election in November. In fact, it’s likely more imperative for voters to get out at the civic election level, because you have a greater connection with your mayor and your local councillors than at the provincial level.

You also don’t have partisanship and divisions at the civic level like you do at the provincial level.  

Long-time residents will remember the civic election of 2000, when Tim Perry edged John Empey by seven votes to become the mayor. It’s a classic case of every vote counting. 

And we’ve seen situations in the councillor race in which the race for that final councillor spot has been harrowingly close.

Few can remember who finished first in the councillor race in recent elections, or the vote difference between third and fourth in the last election, but if you finish seventh in the election, and are just a few votes out of sixth, you’re going to remember it. And it hurts. 

Regardless of whether it’s a provincial election, a municipal election or a school board vote, it’s important for us to vote. We are blessed to have this opportunity to have our say in the guidance of our province or our community or our school board.

If you have the chance to vote, and choose not to, then don’t complain for the next four years.

And while the window is closing to be on the ballot for the provincial election – if you’re in Estevan constituency, your choices are the Green Party, the Liberals, or an independent – there’s still the civic or the school board race to file your papers and get involved.  

And while there will be elections for mayor and councillor in Estevan and other communities, there’s always room on the ballot for quality candidates looking to make a difference in the community.