In the 2009 B.C. election, just 51 per cent of eligible voters bothered to cast a ballot. Some 1.65 million ballots were cast, 120,000 fewer than in 2005, according to Elections B.C., when 58 per cent of eligible voters made their mark.
That's 100-percent apathetic.
To think that the penalties for not completing the much-lamented, long-form census were a maximum a $500 fine and three months in jail, or both, and there's no requirement, let alone penalty, for not showing up at the polls, is, well, short of nonsensical.
I would hope that voting for who governs us is more important than a head count, although by the anguish every time you'd think that civilization as we know it was doomed without the mandatory, long-from census.
But look, we're still here! More than 20 countries have some form of compulsory-turnout voting system, which means, by law, that you have to turn up at the polls come voting day.
Mind you, that doesn't mean you have to vote; you can spoil your ballot, mark none of the above or write in your own candidate, but you do have to make an appearance at the polling station.
Australia has such a system, which stipulates that barring sickness or being incapable, all citizens over 18, except of unsound mind or convicted of serious crimes, must be registered to vote and turn up at the polls on election day, subject to fines if they don't have a valid excuse.
Before the Aussie law came into force nationwide in 1924, voter turnout was as low as 47 per cent. Voter turnout now hovers between 94 and 97 per cent.
In the 2011 federal election in Canada, the voter-turnout numbers weren't much better than B.C.'s provincially in 2009 - about 61 per cent of eligible voters cast a ballot. By comparison, 80 per cent voted federally in Canada in 1962.
The municipal turnout? You don't even want to go there.
In Vancouver, for example, in 2011, voter turnout was about 35 per cent. It begs the question: Does anyone actually have a mandate to run the city?
So the solution is obvious, one would think, just enact a similar, compulsory-turnout system in this country, with all its voting requirements and penalties.
This would make all the difference, because, as National Post columnist George Jonas has said, "In the last 45 years, the only question has been whether the government implementing the NDP's policies will be Liberal or Conservative."
Great line, Mr. Jonas, but, unfortunately, oh so true. Big government is here to stay.
But not so fast, cynical citizen.
I have a better idea. An election lottery - or lotteries.
Federally, for instance, when you cast a ballot you'd automatically be entered in the "Votto."
First prize would be $5 million tax free, either in Canadian currency, U.S. coin or gold bullion, whichever is worth more at the time.
It costs taxpayers about $290 million for each federal election. I bet we could do a little trimming here and there to come up with the first prize.
Provincially, same deal, but maybe $3 million, or something like that, depending on whether you're a have-or have-not province, I suppose.
(Quebec's could be free daycare or free tuition or a pasta menu in Italian).
Think about it! Canadians would look forward to voting again.
The world would notice: "Just look at what those crazy Canadians are doing, Heinrich?
"Let's visit Canada, sounds like an avant-garde place." (English translation from German.)
And it would be fun. After all, elections in Canada are kind of like a lottery now, although no one wins.
And the best part is that with $5 million, if you didn't like who won, you could leave - for Australia.
Lou Kohlmann is a copy editor at The Province.
