Taxation without representation ...
I pay my taxes online. Why do I have to vote in person?
For the record, I marched my patriotic self down to the local school today to cast my vote. There, I encountered one of the last vestiges of the pre-computer age: the Canadian polling station.
As I walked into the gymnasium, I was greeted by a friendly representative of Elections Canada who asked to see my voter information card. And that's when the trouble began. He looked at my card, grimaced, and informed me that I'd have to wait in a long line to cast my vote. I was surprised by the news, as there were three polling stations in the gymnasium and two of the stations were completely inactive. Not a soul waiting in line. Nada.
However, the gods had deigned that I be assigned to polling station #43, which indeed had a long line of voters waiting to cast their ballots. At first I thought to myself, "This should go quick. How long can it take for these people to cast their votes?" And this is when I came face to face with the marvelously multi-dimensional inefficiencies awaiting the Canadian voter.
The cardboard polling stations are bad enough: a complete waste of paper.
The paper ballots add impractical to wasteful. The clerk at my polling station had so much difficulty finding and tearing the perfs that he mistakenly opened the ballot and exposed the vote.
The pre-printed voter information cards seem like a good idea, but their advantage is defeated by poor execution. The problem? Too many people have information cards that don't match their photo ID. This particular misfortune grinds the process to a halt: no one in line can vote till the person with the defective ID sufficiently demonstrates their identity (i.e., fills out the paperwork).
And so, on election day, in my quaint little neighbourhood, I found myself slowed by tedious paper ballots, stymied by line-halting paperwork, and staring at two empty polling stations across the gymnasium. And I asked myself ...
- Why don't we have voting machines instead of convoluted paper ballots and cardboard ballot boxes?
- Why isn't there a side table or separate line for people to prove their identity?
- Why are there long lines at some polling stations and no lines at others?
and, most of all ...
Why am I here in the first place?
If I can pay my taxes online, why can't I vote online? As far as my online personhood is concerned, it's taxation without representation! Maybe it's time for an online Boston Tea Party!
I don't think I'm alone in my complaint. Check the stats. No one is surprised by the outcome of the Canadian federal election. The real news item in Election 2008 is the voter-turnout stat: the lowest-ever at 59%. (The prairies take the title for lowest turnout in Canada at 55%.)
-----------------------------------
On another note ...
I'm sad to report that Hard Rubber didn't win the CBC Anthem Challenge. Still, I'm glad I did my best to give Canadians a new hockey anthem. My thanks to the boys in the band and a special note of appreciation to Winnipeg's #1 morning show host, Larry Updike, who featured the anthem on his show.
Maybe I'll shop Hard Rubber around to another sports program?!?
Labels: ballot boxes, Boston tea party, Canada, CJOB, Election 2008, Larry Updike, taxation, voter
posted by The Rock 'n' Roll Preacher at
10/15/2008 12:28:00 AM
5 Comments:
Some great points, Greg. I had the privilege to work for Elections Canada as a Deputy Returning Officer yesterday. While I didn't get to vote, I was honoured to be part of the democratic process. There's lots that could be done to bring Canada's electoral process into the 21st century, and I hope someone in government decides it would be a worthwhile expenditure. We just spent a few hundred million dollars on an election that pretty much only resolved that there is a dearth of leadership and vision in Canada. What else was accomplished, really, other than alienating even more voters than usual, as demonstrated by the lowest voter turnout of all time. I suggest some vision would make a difference. And a leadership approach other than "my way or the highway" would make a difference, too. Of all the national leaders, it's only Gilles Duceppe who can really say he led his party forward - and he wants to break up the nation! Harper - couldn't deliver a majority with all the planets and stars lined up perfectly for him. Dion - where does one start? A brilliant guy, but not the guy you want out there doing your marketing for you. Layton - well, he's not Prime Minister and won't ever be if he can't surpass Broadbent's historical numbers. May - sharp lady, but unable to get Canadians to hear her over the ridiculous testosterone charged "leadership" contest of the others. Duceppe - 'nuff said.
Our electoral process is the envy of nations around the world for its fairness and integrity. Imagine what could happen if we had vision and integral leadership to match that level of integrity?
Dear Rock and Roll Preacher
I have to confess missing church this week but I hope this does not disqualify me from making a few notes about this blog.
You are one lucky guy. You got to vote at poling booth number 43. Forty three is a prime number and this surly is reserved for prime constituents. Many have tried but only a few are chosen for booth # 43.
The cardboard voting booths and cardboard voting cards are carefully designed as carbon sinks to be safely stored in the ground after voting day; thus keeping the harmful greenhouse carbon gas from poluting the air.
The waits in line at booth 43 are designed especially for your type , with the quick and clever mind. Finally, with paid leve from work, there is time to relax from the hustle and bustle of your Rock and Roll life; time for a sober second thought about your vote ( much as in out provocative Canadian senate). You get time to contemplate your impulsive choice made perhaps a tad too hastily at Starbucks on a grey October day.
The walk to the school is designed to reduce that sharp waistline from 42 inches to the recommened , government approved 40 inches.
Any finally those of us who watch the Rock and Roll Preacher getting up and going to vote reminds us to turn off our own computer , turn away from the simulated life and follow your path down our own Wolsley Avenue much as in the Salt Walk in India some years ago. Gandhi could have ordered the salt delivered from Cosco by UPS but he chose to walk with his neighbors and pick it.
So I think the Canadian government, in its modest way, could be saving you from your impulsive self most honored pastor.
PS Douglas Adams in his book Mr. Standish noted " Very strange people Physicists- in my experience the ones who aren't dead are is some way very ill" Let this not be said of the modern day Christians.
E=MC**2
Hello Greg.
Like Mr. McTaggart. I was also a Deputy Returning Officer.
I thought I'd comment on the questions your posed.
Question 1: "Why don't we have voting machines instead of convoluted paper ballots and cardboard ballot boxes?"
Take it from a guy who has used computers since the the end of the punchcard era and knows a fair amount about how to hack into computers. (I'm not someone who would do that though)
Computer Voting systems are not and IMO never can be secure.
Without getting into a year long detailed explanation on the hows and whys of the impossibility of making a computer 100% secure....
For a quick explanation of just the current problems, Google something like "DIEBOLD VOTING PROBLEMS" or check out some of the references at the bottom of this wiki page.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_voting
Simply put... Paper can be tracked, but electronic data can be altered or simply lost without a trace. Ask any tax auditor.
Question 2: "Why isn't there a side table or separate line for people to prove their identity?"
In larger poll stations there is a "registration officer" who can register people to vote and make changes to their registered name, address etc.
This can help streamline the process a bit, BUT the total legal responsibility for a single poll booth lies with the single Deputy Returning Officer assigned to each poll booth.
He/She is the only person who can count the ballots and administer the poll.
That DRO is the only person to which your proof of idenification really matters. Therefore they are the only person you really need to prove your ID to. They can't see you prove it to someone else at another table.
Quesion 3:
"Why are there long lines at some polling stations and no lines at others?"
Why didn't I have a rich dad and grow up in Hawaii ? LOL
It's simply luck of the draw and time of the day.
Each individual poll has approximately the same number of voters in it's geographic region.
If your poll happens to comprise people who work during the day and are all motivated to vote... they will likely ALL show up right around 5:30 pm. Talk about a line up !
If your poll mainly comprises people who work night shifts and don't care about voting.. well.. the attendance will be small and spread out through the full 12 hr voting time.
I spent a lot of time that day, analyzing how the process could be more secure and efficient, and I sent those ideas to Elections Canada
Alas, the mechanics of the process isn't the whole story.
Another problem IMO is staffing at the voting stations.
People not only seem, to not care about bothering to vote, but it seems extremely hard to find good skilled people to work on polling day.
I shook my head all day....
at some of the polling staff and many of the voters (who in many cases were too lazy to read the voter card and realize they needed ID with them)
Who knows, maybe many of them normally work at McDonalds Drive-Thrus. :)
Cheers
Roy
BTW: I love the new amp. my neighbours may not.. but I love it.
Well, it looks like the commentators on this post think I should 1) get some exercise, 2) learn patience, and 3) gain a greater appreciation of prime numbers.
Sounds like voting day was a blessing in disguise ... and I missed it!
Roy: glad you love the Twin Reverb. When I heard your guitar play through that amp, I knew it was a match made in heaven. If I were your neighbours, I would OPEN my windows.
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