Five months from now voters will go to the polls to choose new local governments and in most communities across the province only one in three eligible voters will cast a ballot.
Three years ago in the last local government elections, Powell River had 10,249 eligible voters, but only 43.6 per cent cast ballots for the current elected officials. In 2008, 47 per cent of eligible voters participated.
This is a sad commentary on public engagement at the local level.
It is clear though, from the letters the Peak receives weekly for print and online, that many residents are passionate about this community and care deeply about the decisions that are made on local issues.
We at the Peak believe your vote matters. The political process is best served at any level through high voter turnout. The voices of voters have the most direct and immediate impact at the local level.
The Peak is joining a number of other newspapers in BC who are challenging their communities to increase voter turnout. Our objective is to reach the 60 per cent mark next election.
To assist, we are launching “Your Vote Matters.” It’s a five-month initiative designed to engage and inform voters on local issues and give compelling reasons for the majority of Powell River’s electors to show up at the polls on November 15.
During that time, even though it encompasses the summer, the Peak asks Powell River residents to think about the question: why should I vote?
While they enjoy outdoor activities, we will ask residents which local issues are most important to them when they cast their ballot in the fall.
The Peak is launching a special page on our website devoted to 2014 local government election coverage which will bring together stories about important issues. We will provide online forums for people to connect. We will also continue to use our social media channels to engage our readers with stories, photos, audio and video.
In the fall, when the official campaign kicks off, we will sponsor election information nights for seniors, newcomers and people with disabilities and continue to pose the question: why should I vote?
Over the next five months we will continue to provide readers with coverage of the decisions of Powell River’ mayor and council, regional district directors and board of education trustees as they seek to resolve issues.
The Peak does not endorse any candidates and commends all who run for political office. The main goal is to increase voter turnout come November.
