Getting Out the Vote
Prince George, B.C.- The biggest challenge facing candidates in the election may well be getting voters to the polls.
In the 2011 election, voter turnout was just 28.5% in Prince George, and was just 32% in 2008.
Recent polls show that when it comes to selecting a mayor in Prince George, the undecideds could tip the scale for one candidate or the other.
With that in mind, 250 News asked the two mayoral candidates their thoughts on how they think voter turnout can be improved.
Lyn Hall (in photo at right) says he thinks there is a role for the media to play to encourage people to head to the polls, but he says there should be a push to get younger voters to cast ballots. “We’re using a lot of social media to attract those younger voters. It’s important, we need to get younger first time voters and voters from that age demographic of 20 to 35 who haven’t voted before to become very interested in what’s going on in our city. I think there needs to be issues that they’re attracted to, they want to take on and are interested in, and that will get them out to the polls.”
Hall has a target in mind for voter turnout this year, “I know it’s a difficult challenge but I would like to see a 10% increase over 2011.”
He says voters may be more engaged in the election this time as the sitting mayor is not on the ballot, and the two candidates have to state their case for leadership.
Zurowski says having so many candidates on the ballot may be a good thing “I think there are a lot of candidates on the roster and that will at least get their friends and family out to vote, so based on sheer numbers of individuals running, that could contribute to an increase.” Zurowski adds that past performance at the polls has been disappointing “It’s always surprised me, shocked me, that voter turnout is as low as it has been.”
One thing which may have an impact on getting people out to the polls is the referendum on fluoridation. Residents of the City are being asked if they support the City continuing with the practice of adding fluoride to the water.
If the advance polls at City hall are any indication, voters are interested, as both advance polling days have reported steady activity.
Comments
It would help if we had someone worthy of voting for..
Both mayor candidates leave me with the feeling that we will be worse off in years to come than we have been in years past.
How can one in all good concience vote for someone we feel will not be good, or even adequate for our city.
I agree with Zurowski. Just getting the voters out is not good enough, the voters need to be informed before they vote. We don’t need people voting for candidate X because their union tells them to, or their mom has always voted a certain way, or the candidates son is cute or…
well said bcracer. feel the same way.
I also agree with Don Zurowski, very well said and presented, showing leadership skills in his answer. I think the election date should be looked at, maybe early October or early spring like the end of April to the end of May. I’m thankful for people who are willing to put their hat in the ring and run for these important positions in our city. I remember a word of wisdom from a very elderly man, who is now passed on. Any government is better, then no government at all.
When you consider that of all three levels of government (federal, provincial and municipal), it is at the municipal level that voters have better access to and influence, the turnout would be higher. Perhaps the people who rent rather than own property think municipal politics doesn’t affect them. Well think again, ’cause if your landlord’s property bill goes up, so too will your rent!
There is no good reason not to vote. People fought and died for the right.
Stop making excuses, find out about the candidates stand for and cast a ballot.
Zurowski, just saying what he thinks people want to hear but little substance, but agree get out and vote it is a right.
Untill the taxpayers realizes that numbers are important they will forever have a poor government. They leave it the next person to elect a good government and it just dosent work that way.
Cheers
Posted on Thursday, November 13, 2014 @ 8:58 AM by Retired 02
Untill the taxpayers realizes that numbers are important they will forever have a poor government. They leave it the next person to elect a good government and it just dosent work that way.
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More nonsense. It doesn’t matter who gets elected, they’re running for office for themselves, not for you and not for me. Politicians -regardless of their affiliation- are in politics to line their pockets and the pockets of their friends. The number of voters will not make for a “good government”.
The only thing voting does is let you feel like you’ve earned the right to complain about the government.
And in memory of those that died to protect the right ,Remembrance day is not just a holiday.
So it appears that Zurowski and Axman have the ability to judge whether the citizens of Prince George are informed or not. Hmmmmm. Where do they get this insight.
Why do we need these individuals to advise us to get informed,. I suggest that they mind their own business. I will be the judge of whether I am informed or not.
Posted on Thursday, November 13, 2014 @ 11:52 AM by Palopu
So it appears that Zurowski and Axman have the ability to judge whether the citizens of Prince George are informed or not. Hmmmmm. Where do they get this insight.
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That’s really a rather bizarre conclusion on your part. Show me where I (or Zurowski) said that we can judge whether or not you’re informed.
Your love affair with Lyn Hall is causing you to make some rather asinine comments.
I will be the judge of whether I am informed or not.
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But thats th problem Pal most dont give hoot all they want is good government and they really don’t know what good government is. That why I say numbers are so important they will have to think what there next move should be regardless wether its for them or you.
Cheers
Axman – I am a fan.
Palopu – I am sure you have done your homework, however, Don Zurowski was not a board member of the Pavco until 2012 The work with BC Place Stadium was already complete before he was part of the board…..Just sayin….
Informed bah. I know exactly what is going on and don’t need to be told to get out and become informed. I am quite surprised at Zurowski’s answer to the question he was asked here compared to his one line sentences he gave the Free Press. Must’ve been an easy question on 250News to have such a long paragraph.
Any Candidate who puts Crime at damn well near the bottom of their bucket list while running in this election doesn’t really get my vote. Only a few candidates want to tackle crime, instead I see some would rather grow the city, make it beautiful and present PG to future residents. I can’t wait for Saturday evening…Things will be interesting that is for sure.
Pookerjams : Well said, look for my announcement January 2017 when I make the plunge into civic politics. I will seriously consider running for council if the incoming council sucks after the first three year term.
Crime is the issue in Prince George and is the key part of what’s holding us back from all the nice “fluffy” stuff everyone else is talking about. The core needs to be cleared out and cleaned up, the crime sources are out there hiding in plain sight. Remove them and we can see new life in an area that is considered by today’s standards as lost.
I want to see how a new crew in council will do under Don or Lyn’s leadership. Mind you Lyn needs to drop the antiques roadshow stupidity of a moving council what an expensive waist of tax payer’s cash. (He knows it was a stupid idea when he thought of it, but for some reason thought it was a good idea to vocalize it).
Axman, I don’t often agree with your posts here, but in this case I have to salute you and your reply to Palapu.
He must have taken much different course in high school English that I did in order to have arrived at his conclusion regarding Don’s statement regarding a more informed electorate! Nothing in that statement indicated to me that he thought he knew how informed or uninformed I am personally. To paraphrase he not only wants more people to vote, he would also like to see more people actually take the time to get to know the candidates and the issues!
Makes perfect sense to me as a better informed electorate will probably make better choices when they mark their ballots!
The reason we have the right to vote is because of the sacrifices of many men and women in the armed forces that went into battle for Canada and our allies. Please remember that and exercise your right to vote.
You have the biggest impact with your vote on the civic level. It carries a lot more weight then voting provincially or federally. We only had around %28 turn out last civic election lets get to over %50. If you think about it only %15 actually voted for our last mayor, that shows how little support she had.. Says the same for our councellors.
Please vote everyone.
‘The reason we have the right to vote is because of the sacrifices of many men and women in the armed forces that went into battle for Canada and our allies. Please remember that and exercise your right to vote. ‘
– Last I checked, the armed forces never went to war over municipal elections, but you sound like someone who spits out cliches from dawn till dusk.
Any Free rides to the polling Station-other than a City Bus ?
Pg101.. They fought for democracy, .. Are you ignorant on purpose ? Do you have an ounce of sense, do you know why Canada went to war?
Go live in a communist society for 20 yrs, then come back to Canada so you can see how good we have it due to winning the wars..
Thank you as well ax man. I think we are all getting sick of the constant campaign of negativity and “just sayin” comments of Palapu. Dude, I think you need to get a job or maybe a better one so you can focus your time in a slightly more productive way.
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