Is there ever a good time for an election?

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 02/09/2011 (5490 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

How many times have you heard someone, somewhere say this, before a provincial election?

“I don’t think people really do want to see an election right now.”

In fact, this kind of comment comes up nearly every single time that Canadians have to endure another election campaign. In this case, the above quote was by Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger, who was commenting on the timing of last May’s federal election.

At the time, Manitoba was in the thick of battling a one-in-300-year flood, and of course folks were a little preoccupied, so the comment was fair.

But it is a worthy question: When exactly is a good time for an election?

A group called Democracy Watch has called upon the governments of Manitoba, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Ontario — all of which will have scheduled provincial elections in early to mid-October — to recall their respective legislatures and push the election dates back to November.

On Wednesday, organization founder Duff Conacher told the Winnipeg Free Press that people with kids in school are focused on getting their fall schedules in place and aren’t going to engage in any election campaign.

Meanwhile, university students are focused on their own return to classes, and many will have just moved and may not even have the proper ID to allow them to vote on election day.

Having the votes in November would be better, he says, because weather would be less of a factor than in October. (Not to mention the fact that Canadians have Thanksgiving on their mind — and apparently we’re not that thankful for political campaigns.)

Honestly, the group’s logic is a little fuzzy, as the snow begins to fly in November and the mercury takes a nasty dip. Winter typically isn’t great weather for seniors to get out and vote anyway.

December’s out, as the Christmas and New Year season kicks into high gear. January, like November, February and much of March, is cold and unpleasant. Why make things more unpleasant with an election?

As we noted before, April and May are out — at least in Manitoba —as government have to focus on fighting floods. And April is the university exam season.

June? Nope. High school graduation season. July or August? Not a chance. Who’s going to pay attention to a policy debate while lounging on a deck chair at the cottage or on the road during a family vacation?

So that would leave September then, which is worse than October for back to school worries and busy schedules.

Manitoba’s election date on Oct. 4 is a Tuesday. Busy on weekdays, huh? Well how about a Saturday or Sunday? Oh right, don’t ruin the weekend.

In short, there is no perfect time for an election — at least from the voter perspective. But a lack of time is hardly a valid excuse not to cast a ballot.

Elections Manitoba holds advance polling dates for those who won’t have time to vote on Oct. 4. Manitobans can also apply for absentee voting if they are eligible to vote but can’t make it to the voting booth on election day or for the advance polls.

In our view, voter apathy and complacency have gradually replaced any feeling of civic duty Canadians may have felt toward provincial and federal elections. And in part, we blame that on the fact that continual hyper-partisan rhetoric has replaced thoughtful election debate.

Bluntly put, it feels like Canada is in constant election mode because essentially, we are. And voters are tired of it. That’s what needs to change — not the voting date.