*Full transparency. I’m not a resident of Regina. I did however still vote in my municipal election.*

Nearly 53,000 voters turned out to polls on Wednesday night in Regina for the municipal election. That sounds great! And It kind of is. It’s up big time over 2020 numbers. An increase of nearly 5%. However, it may look better than it is.

Only 26% of eligible voters in the Queen City thought it was worth their time to vote. THAT is sad. 3 in 4 people didn’t let their voice be heard. BUT it sure seems that more than 26% of the population complains about the state of the city. Popular social media channels show off the worst of the city and we’re concerned. But not concerned enough to drag our ass to a ballot box and fill in a simple x.

This election should be a massive warning sign to elected city officials. First thing, with a rise in voter turnout, its clear sign people don’t want the same old thing. People want change. But with that said, a 26 percent voter turnout says that many are hopeless. They don’t even believe in the system enough to vote. I’ve heard MANY people say the system is so corrupt that it really doesn’t matter who gets in. Sadly, I kind of believe them.

But that is no reason not to vote. I’ve always looked at it as a duty. Voting is not an option. It’s an obligation. My Dad instilled that in us at a very young age. I hold that value to be true to this day. You often hear “If you don’t vote, you can’t bitch.”. That’s not true. You can complain. But your complaint is hollow and you know it.

What I’m saying is, GET OUT AND VOTE. In all elections. Not just Federal and Provincial. Municipal elections are ground level. These are the officials living in your community. The ones who make decisions that effect you daily. School board elections affect your kids. And if you don’t have kids, they affect your friends crotch goblins.

Many people have said the voting stations were too busy the night of. That’s a fair complaint. Elections Regina didn’t handle things perfectly. But, advance polls were an option. Over 15,000 people voted in advance. Hell, you could even do the drive thru at city hall.

In closing…just vote. Your voice does matter.

-Chad