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By Mel Rothenburger

ARMCHAIR MAYOR

ROTHENBURGER: The ‘will of the majority’ is about those who bother to vote

May 17, 2023 | 4:50 AM

THERE SEEMS TO BE a misconception that the legitimacy of a vote is dependent on the number of people voting.

During the PSAC strike there was consternation over the fact that only a third of the 100,000 public servants in one bargaining unit voted on the walkout. There were questions around voting deadlines, but the validity of the vote was upheld based on the fact 80 per cent of those who did vote supported the strike.

The labour board ruled it was a fair indication of what the vote result would have been no matter how many members cast ballots.

Which, in a roundabout way, makes the point that our democratic system depends on those who show up, not those who stay home and complain.

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This is very much the case with municipal elections. There are still those who insist the results of last October’s vote would have been different if there had been a bigger turnout or fewer candidates. That’s just idle blather.

True, the 29-per-cent turnout was pathetic. Fortunately, though, there’s no law in Canada that says we must vote. In this democracy, we each make that decision for ourselves.

Very few mayors ever get more than 50 per cent of the votes of those who do turn out. Unless, of course, there’s a strong incumbent and unknown challengers. And, certainly, getting a majority of the total number of eligible voters just isn’t going to happen.

Even though candidates for councillor have eight chances per ballot to gain voter support, not a single one of the current group who are in office hit the 50 per cent mark of those who turned out.

Likewise, in federal and provincial elections, where the turnout is higher, parties and candidates rely on pluralities rather than majorities to obtain office.

So, let’s put away our calculators and accept that the “will of the majority” means the will of those who take the time to vote.

I’m Mel Rothenburger, the Armchair Mayor.

Mel Rothenburger is a regular contributor to CFJC Today, publishes the ArmchairMayor.ca opinion website, and is a recipient of the Jack Webster Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award. He has served as mayor of Kamloops, school board chair and TNRD director, and is a retired newspaper editor. He can be reached at mrothenburger@armchairmayor.ca.

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Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or Pattison Media.