
The vicious cycle: Why low voter turnouts might not be the voters' fault
CBC
Political cynicism is running deep for some Calgary voters.
Terry Peterson is tired of hearing the same things over and over. He says that the next time a politician comes to the door, he should just record them. Then later, when other politicians show up, he'll have a ready response.
"I'll say: "Hold on. I'll play the tape."
"It's the same thing. Always," said Peterson.
"Our people are so dejected," he said.
"When they do vote and people get in, nothing happens. It's the same year after year. It just gets worse and nothing gets done," he added, having a smoke outside Mom's Cafe on 17th Avenue S.E.
Throughout the federal election campaign, CBC Calgary has been on the streets talking to folks in the neighbourhoods of the Forest Lawn electoral district. We chose this area because in the last federal election, only 53 per cent of registered voters went to the polls — significantly fewer than the provincial average of 69 per cent.