By Patrick Lee & Paola Ardiles
Voting is one of the most fundamental actions a citizen takes in a democracy. The act of voting is both a right and responsibility, and the extent to which citizens choose to exercise those rights and responsibilities is often seen as an indication of the health of a democracy. Indeed, voter turnout is one of the Canadian Index of Wellbeing‘s (CIW) headline indicators of democratic engagement. The CIW is a measure of quality of life that incorporates indicators in eight key categories, including democratic engagement, health, education and environment. CIW is emerging as an alternative to GDP as a measure of wellbeing in Canada. Bridge for Health recognizes the holistic nature of health and the importance of democratic engagement, among other factors, in the health of individuals and communities.
Election day is the one day every three or four years where regardless of age, ethnicity, gender, and social and economic status, each citizen has an equal voice in the direction of his or her community. Each ballot is equal to every other ballot cast. Casting that ballot is an expression of self-determination and participating in the electoral process empowers individuals and their communities. Voting gives voice to those who are historically marginalized in political conversations. However, voter turnout in Canada has dropped to record lows in recent years — as low as 33% in some major cities. Turnout is so low that everyone knows someone who does not vote. It’s time to reverse this trend.
No matter what your political colours, voting at the municipal, provincial and federal level is an important step you can take to promote the health and well-being of your family and community. On Saturday November 15th, 2014 citizens in British Columbia will have a chance to use their voice to shape their next municipal governments. Municipal governments play a very important role in terms of addressing issues that impact neighbourhoods such as housing, employment, child-care, arts, library & community services. Community centres and neighbourhood houses also provide public spaces that promotes physical health and a sense of belonging which is critical for our overall health. Visit Election 2014 or your local government’s website to get informed about your candidates and polling stations.
Take a pledge today to have a conversation about voting with someone you know who does not vote. Share why voting is important to you, and seek to understand their perspective. Listen and build upon common ground, knowing that promoting the vote is about creating dialogue and engagement, together.
Although voting is perhaps the most common expression of citizen engagement, other civic actions are equally as important. Ongoing citizen engagement through volunteering and participation in civic activities, both during and between elections, builds knowledge, skills and networks of individuals who create more resilient communities. Those communities are better able to respond to challenges facing them, whether they be health issues, environmental problems or economic challenges.
Many groups of people who have been historically marginalized in politics, such as immigrants and those living in poverty, also face health inequities in British Columbia. Bridge for Health is taking an active role in increasing citizen engagement, and in doing so, Bridge for Health not only empowers people to contribute to the physical and mental health of their communities, but their political health as well. In tackling these complex issues, we all have knowledge to share and Bridge for Health’s work creates space for learning and collaboration.
Join the conversation and share your story about how you promote health & well-being in your community by using #sharingourselves
And…don’t forget to vote!
Patrick Lee is the Founder for Promote the Vote , a non-partisan movement you can follow @VotePromote