Before last year’s provincial election I ran a story on how to decline your ballot in a Provincial Election and more than 31,000 Ontarians declined their ballot. I was wondering if the same rules apply in a Federal Election.
According to the Ottawa Citizen voters in a Federal Election can decline their ballot, more on how to do this in our story from last year, however, that declined ballot is put into the system with all the spoiled or unmarked ballots and no shows. That means that declining your ballot in a Federal Election doesn't do as much as in a Provincial Election as they are not counted separately from spoiled ballots. So in short, you can decline to vote, however, it’s not shown is the voting records as having been declined. It is placed amongst those that spoiled their ballot or voted for multiple candidates.
Should Canada have a separate count specifically of those that declined to vote? What are your thoughts? Tweet us @TheGuildwoodian, find us on Facebook or Email Us!