How to increase overall voter turn-out?

In Part 1 of a 2 part letter posted to the City of Merritt website - Meritt Mayor Susan Roline pleads with her voters to make November's vote the best ever by making the simple point:

Skipping November's vote is not "Rebellion" but "Surrender"

Read her Part 1 Letter posted on the City of Merritt website below verbatim:

With Municipal Elections taking place in November this year, there is much talk about who will run again, who will run and who would be good to run. Politics is certainly not for the faint of heart or for someone whose feelings are injured easily. With Municipal Government being the most accessible level of government, they are the first to hear of the issues, whether or not they are actually under the local government’s control. Elected officials live, work and play in the communities they serve.

An elected official’s role is not one of individual power where it takes only you to make changes, get things done and determine where tax dollars are spent. You have one vote on council and you may be able to influence others through debate, but you must work as part of a team to get anything done and you absolutely need to work for the greater good. Often an elected official feels obligated to those individuals that say they supported them in the election, or to an organization they have been involved with and passionate about for years, but when you sit in that council chair you are now obligated to make decisions that are best for the overall community.

It is said that Cynicism is rampant in politics today. The vitriol increases, civility is abandoned. The public is left fuming and frustrated. I firmly believe that when elected officials ensure individual concerns and overall public benefit remained balanced, that this statement could be turned around. When Councilors are participating in open respectful debate around the table; when councilors listen in order to understand versus to reply; when a good cross section of our community are represented; when quality people with the necessary balance of skills and attributes are elected; when the voters are able to make an informed decision on who to elect and when residents understand that when you skip voting, it is not REBELLION – it is SURRENDER, we would see a better participation rate in people willing to put their name forward, a better turn out at the polls and therefore a better governance body.

Please watch for Part 2 next week.

Mayor Susan Roline