Most alarming are statistics that reveal a paltry 25-per-cent turnout of eligible voters under 25.

The experts are predicting the voter turnout on June 28 could dip below 60 per cent and some offer explanations for this trend to voter apathy. They say more people, disillusioned by broken promises from politicians of all stripes, have turned away in disgust.

Others say there is an emerging population that has never developed a political appetite and are not connected at all with political campaigns. They are indifferent to politics in general and see no significance in elections. In news interviews, they often say they don't know what the issues are, they're not interested and they are not going to vote because elections are irrelevant.

Proponents of proportional representation argue that growing voter disinterest is fuelled by our outdated first-past-the-post voting system in which millions of votes are "wasted."
If every vote counted in determining how many seats a party would get, voter participation would increase they say.

We must not however be too quick in placing the blame for a shrinking electorate on a faulty system or pandering politicians. Surely the individual non-voter must shoulder the bulk of the blame.

It is the individual voter's responsibility to make the effort to find out what the parties stand for and align themselves with the party or candidate whose values most closely resemble their own.

As far as voting having becoming irrelevant, ask any citizen of any country where free elections are not permitted if the right to vote is irrelevant.

We would recommend that people move beyond simply voting for their candidate of choice and get directly involved in the campaign. They will find politics are not so boring for those directly involved. They will develop lasting relationships and find themselves persuading others to become involved. They could find themselves persuading someone to stand for nomination as a candidate and even run for office themselves. An informed and involved individual voter is the foundation of a healthy democracy.

Once every four years or so, we are asked to make the effort to get informed and go to the ballot box. It is not too much to ask. Elections Canada has made it much easier, in practical terms, to vote in advance polls and on election day.

Yes, politicians may not always follow through on campaign promises, yes it is difficult to fully understand the platforms of the parties, and yes, politics and politicians can be boring. But, in a representative democracy, each citizen has an equal voice, through voting, in choosing our representatives. Act responsibly and use that right to cast a ballot on June 28.

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