Je scrute donc je suis

[jawnbc]

Today I pitched in for the socialist hordes: I was a scrutineer for the NDP at the advance polls. For those in other parts of the world, in a Canadian federal election one can vote on election day (23 January), during the advance polling (13, 14 or 16 January), at your local Elections Canada office (by prior arrangement/application) or even by mail (if you can't do any of the other options). Most parties encourage their members/supporters to vote earlier: it consolidates the vote and means horrible weather on election day doesn't skew results. Ostensibly.

So I scrutinized today and will do so again on the 23rd. It's not terribly challenging work: you keep an eye on the election staff with respect to procedural stuff (rarely a problem), and keep a tally of who votes. You can't interfere, you can't campaign, and you can't even discuss politics. You can, however, chat amiable with the staff and, in whacky BC, the other scrutineers.

Here in Vancouver Centre that meant another NDipper, a lethargic Liberal, and a pleasant spawn of Satan Conservative fellow. Some engaging sotto voce discussions about the Olympics, mass transit, Stephen Harper (the Con guy thinks he's a freak too), all in all very pleasant.

Our electoral systemin Canada is very complex: you get a paper ballot and a pencil, mark a single X, and put your ballto in the ballot box. Then they count them all. 308 ridings (seats) across the country; we usually have 95% of the results within 3 hours. Recounts are the exception.

You'll probably think me a loser, but I get misty about all this. Everyone was--for the most part-civil if not friendly. Many of us find our first-past-the-post system flawed, but we're still in a functioning democracy. I get to vote, I get a decent selection of ideologies/values from which to choose, and I don't feel I have to strategically vote--probably because I've already escaped one "two party" hegemony system. My country includes social democrats, conservatives, moderates, greens, and others.

We're the luckiest people in the world, we Canucks.

Comments

[ironbark.livejournal.com]

I have scrutineered at Aussie elections and the rules are much the same. There is a friendly camardrie between scrutineers of opposite parties. But you do have to watch a bit close because with out preferential system the people often stuff the numbering up so there is plenty of opportunity to challenge a ballot paper. although there are rules on how to fill the paper out the last rule is if the intention is clear a spoilt ballot can still be counted.

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

See that sounds more like civilized democracy in action. Plus you have a nice mix of political views having a chat.

[gav-and-rog.livejournal.com]

Ah, to vote along ideological lines rather than strategically (which I kind of think is a little ideological related but the range is this way or that rather than these are my values).



Gav.