The Editor,
In answering who is to blame for voter apathy, I would say it is largely advocates of our parliamentary voting system. These people refuse to examine the faults of a voting system that is more than 200 years old and wastes 40% to 50% of votes. Some votes will go to elect the opposition party, which has no power. The rest, in a majority election win, goes to the winning party, which has autocratic rule.
Without direct accountability, the ruling party can make disastrous decisions and anger voters. The ruling party's ineptness will eventually lead it to lose power but the damage it causes makes it harder on the next ruling party. The next ruling party promises to do better but fails to and many voters come to conclude however they vote makes no difference.
Thus, many grow apathetic towards elections and that is why I believe voter turnout keeps declining.
I predict voter turnout will likely drop again this year. The solution is electoral reform but it will not happen until a sufficient number of people believe the present voting system has to change.
Vincent Lizee, Coquitlam
