Tomorrow, Canadians across the country will head to the polls to cast their votes in the federal election. It’s a moment that always fills me with a mix of pride, hope, and reflection. This year is extra special; I get to watch my daughters navigate their relationship with voting and democracy.
I have two daughters who are now of voting age. I have tried my best to instill in them the importance of exercising their vote. To research the candidates and their party platforms. To critically judge not just the words and platforms of the participants but to analyze their actions, past and present.
My eldest daughter is completely apathetic to the concept of voting. Zero interest in the process or the issues of the day. Politics feels distant to her, abstract, even. She wonders if her vote makes a difference at all. And yet, despite her apathy, she still shows up to cast her ballot. There’s something quietly powerful about that. The act of participating even when passion doesn’t fuel the choice.
Then there’s my youngest. She voted for the first time during Ontario’s provincial election earlier this year, and I couldn’t have been prouder. Her enthusiasm was infectious. When her boyfriend casually mentioned that he doesn’t vote, she wasted no time in making her stance clear: not voting wasn’t an option. Listening to her passionately defend the importance of voting was one of those proud Dad moments that stays with you.
As we cast our ballots, it’s important to remember that these rights were hard-earned and are worth cherishing. Voting in secret means that your decision belongs to you alone. It reinforces the fundamental democratic ideal that everyone’s voice carries equal weight, regardless of background, belief, or position.
In today’s world, where political polarization and online pressures are increasingly common, the privacy of the secret ballot remains a powerful safeguard. It ensures that Canadians can make their decisions based on their own convictions, not on the expectations or demands of others. It protects the legitimacy of our elections and the trust we place in the democratic process.
Tomorrow’s election is about more than political parties and platforms. It’s about renewing our commitment to the democratic traditions that have shaped Canada. Each time we step up and make our mark, we honour not just our right to choose but also the generations who helped make that right possible.
This election is the most important one in my lifetime and I’m proud that my daughters will be exercising their vote, regardless of their enthusiasm for the process.
The secret ballot may be a quiet part of our democracy, but it is one of its greatest strengths.
Use it wisely & I’ll see you at the polls!