What I learned during this election campaign
(Other than issues. I’m not trying to influence your voting decision here.)
1. Who’s organized.
Quite a while ago, I visited the websites of all BC political parties. If there was a sign up for our email updates thing, I signed up. Today — the day before the election! — the Liberals sent their first message to me. A little late out of the gates, guys. Meanwhile, the NDP sent dozens of notices in the same time frame. The Greens didn’t have an notices by email option at all.
2. Who’s using social media tools.
Everybody’s learned from Barack Obama’s campaign, I think. The Liberals, Greens, and NDP are all using Twitter, Youtube, and Facebook.
3. Talk shows and letters to the editor may not be what they seem.
Political parties go to a lot of work to organize their members to call in, write letters, etc. I guess I’d been too naive or politically uninvolved to notice this in the past, but this strategy is obvious on party websites and email updates.
4. I like advance polls a lot.
My voter’s registration card told me to vote at the Gabriola Community Hall, but also gave me the option of voting at advance polls in the Nanaimo area. I did that. I opted for the ‘voting place’ at the Salvation Army in Nanaimo. There were no crowds, everybody was friendly and kind, and the Salvation Army invited voters to a buffet lunch/snack thing on their way out. No religious pushiness, just good free food. Thanks, Sally Ann.
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