1. + You should vote. let’s talk about voter apathy Alicia Higgison \\ October 16, 2015

2. + Overview … why is she here? Explain what Voter Apathy is. Explain how to vote, and what happens when you do. Convince you that voting is cool, necessary, and worth your time. Make you laugh. (hopefully) Bore you with (lots of) statistics. Use political jargon words. Tell you who to vote for. Tell you who not to vote for. What I will do:What I will not do:

3. + voter apathy: noun, perceived lack of caring among voters in an election. (Wikipedia) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voter_apathy Windsor Municipal Election, 2014Ontario Provincial Election, 2014 52.1% VOTED 47.9% NOPE 37.46% VOTED 62.54% NOPE

4. + Do you know who votes?  Those aged 65 and older.  Immigrants who have been in Canada 10yrs or less. “Bad officials are elected by good citizens who don’t vote.” - George Jean Nathan http://www.elections.ca/content.aspx?section=res&dir=rec/part/estim/41ge&document=report41&lang=e http://www.macleans.ca/politics/ottawa/the-uninterested/ When we don’t vote, we are saying we’re not paying attention. When we don’t vote, we get crappy candidates. When we don’t vote, we have no voice to say we expect better.

5. + Why do we not vote? {the reasons are not complicated} The language politicians use is alienating Citizens don’t trust politicians to deliver on promises No one understands how our system works Citizens can’t find information on the candidates People don’t know the difference between the parties Politics is boring Politics is confusing Nothing ever changes so what’s the point of voting anyway? { What did I miss? }

6. + Why do you vote? Vote because They expect you not to. Vote because you care about your kids, or your neighbour’s kids, or because you like that no one is making you have kids. Vote because you care about you. Vote because you don’t want to wait 4 hours at the ER. Vote because you pay taxes, and don’t really know what exactly happens to those things… Vote because you like that you get to freely walk into your church. Vote because your community school is great. Vote because you want to high five every soldier you ever meet. Vote because you’re tired of never feeling like you’re really heard. Vote because it matters. Vote because it changes everything when you do.

7. + “Fine. Let’s say I want to vote. How?” If you have no address, you can absolutely vote! Have a Letter of Confirmation of Residence form printed off the Elections Canada website, ask the Administrator to sign it. Bring this letter, and a piece of ID with your name on it. Also accepted: a letter written on a shelter or mission or soup kitchen’s letterhead from the Administrator. High five yourself. Where is your riding & voting booth? Find two pieces of ID. Between 9am & 9pm, get your body into a line at your polling station Show your ID, get your ballot & go stand behind the cardboard fort, put an X in the circle of your choice. www.elections.ca

8. + Who are the people on the ballot? You are voting for a Member of Parliament (MP). You vote for one of them whom you think best represents your thoughts and ideals and values in Parliament in Ottawa. MPs make laws you’ll have to follow. The party with the most seats gets their guy/girl in charge. Prime Ministers are the leaders of the party with the most seats in the House of Commons. We do not vote for a Prime Minster. We vote for a Member of Parliament from our local area. where are the guys in the commercials?? www.votingproject.wordpress.com

9. + When you vote, you change the whole system. You change the future. Make your politicians speak to you in language you understand. Make them answer your questions. You are their boss. Elections are their job interview. When you vote, you get to ::record scratch:: the political game. You hate politics? Fine. It still affects everything you do. Go ahead and hate it. But hate it and do something. Get involved, and change something. not kidding.

10. + You don’t have to know everything to vote Vote first. Then demand better. votingproject.wordpress.com Alicia Higgison - zero political affiliation - political junkie by choice - mother of three future voters - proud Windsorite thevotingproject@gmail.com