“If people are sitting on the fence, then that can say a lot about what they think of our democracy.”
That’s from UNBC Political Science Lecturer Jason Morris when it comes to potential apathy among voters ahead of the 2024 provincial election set for October 19th.
After experiencing a low 54% turnout during the 2020 pandemic election, Morris believes the advance voting numbers could tell the story on how busy final voting day may get.
“What tends to happen is that advance voters they are maybe the ones that are more died in the wool supporters of a political party. It’s where the parties themselves have gotten their supporters to come out and in that case, it just might mirror the type of results we see in the polls.”
Morris is hoping the paltry voter turnout four years ago is more of an outlier than an actual trend.
“Elections are a time where we get to choose our leaders, we get to ratify past policy decisions and select future ones, it also speaks to the legitimacy we feel towards our electoral system.”
“We can get a sense on how engaged people are based on what the advanced poll numbers are. If people are going out to vote and do their duty, we can also consider apathy isn’t as much the case when the polls at least for the BC Conservatives and the NDP are so tight.”
Speaking of which, public opinion is firming up.
A new Leger survey, taken earlier this month, shows the New Democrats with 47 per cent support of decided voters, while the Conservatives have slipped to 42 per cent.
Only eight per cent of British Columbians say they’re undecided.
According to the poll, the NDP picked up support this month from women, and voters between the ages of 18 and 34.
Advance voting begins tomorrow (Thursday) province-wide and wraps up on October 16th.
However, advanced polling locations will be closed on Monday for Thanksgiving.
(from the files of Brendan Pawliw staff)
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