Get out and VOTE

IALA:Get out and VOTE

The general elections are coming up and it’s our public duty to vote. While many might feel it’s too much of a nuisance, voting is really important.

 However, if you are too young to vote in this year, that is no reason to not understand and investigate the importance of this election.  Voting is a way to honour New Zealand’s democratic legacy as the first self-governing country in the world to allow all women the right to vote in parliamentary elections. Voting also earns you the right to complain. Politicians can make bad decisions, and there are policies you will not agree with. However, if you don’t vote, you have no grounds to complain. Furthermore, this year the Electoral Commission is targeting those between the ages of 18 and 25 to get them to the polling booths. 

Statistics show, the youth vote is a hard one to get. However, the younger you are the longer you will have to live with the consequences of the election, so why wouldn’t you want your preferences in charge? Finally, the best thing about voting is that it doesn’t matter who you are or what you do, your vote counts just as much as everyone else’s. So value this right that we have, it’s a privilege some people still struggle for today.  But like I said, if you are too young to vote that’s no reason not to get involved. One of the ways is to take part in the Kiwi Kids News Election – https://kiwikidsnews.co.nz/kiwi-kids-election-2017/  Go onto the websites of New Zealand’s political parties and have a look at their policies. Watch the debates on TVNZ OnDemand and see who you agree with. Once you have decided who you want to be in charge, get out into the community and start trying to persuade people to agree with you. If you are successful you will be able to vote in this election – through an older person who listened to you, agreed with you and was convinced to vote that way.  To me, the three biggest problems in New Zealand are child poverty, the unaffordability of housing and the large gap between the rich and the poor. Therefore, I have been following this year’s election to see what party is offering the best solutions to these problems. 

However, once I decided on my vote I then set to work trying to convince undecided voters to vote for the party I preferred. The way I see it, if you talk to someone who was unsure of who to vote for or maybe wasn’t even going to vote at all, and share with them the benefits of your preferred party, they might just vote for them, and you have gained an extra vote in the election.  Our voting is so important as the Government is accountable to Parliament for its actions and policies. Similarly, ministers are answerable to Parliament for their own actions and policies and for the actions and policies of the departments and state agencies for which they are responsible. However, it is the people who vote Parliament into power. Therefore, we are in charge of the country this September and it’s up to us to make the right choices.  Democracy, derives from two Greek words literally meaning power by the people. That power is your vote and the right to vote has come at a cost, so don’t waste it.  Critical Thinking Challenges:

 1. Do you believe that the right to vote is important? If so, in what way? 2. Do you believe that voting really is a way to keep tabs on the government? If so, in what way? If not, why? 3. Do you think that the coverage of the elections this season have been good? Do you feel like you are well informed?  Practical Tasks: 1. Ask you peers what they have heard about the elections recently? To they know who they would/are voting for? 2. What are the three biggest problems in NZ to you? Which party solves these problems? 3. What is your opinion on this article? Do you agree or disagree that voting is important? Share your own opinion in the COMMENTS BELOW.

feel free to leave a comment 

Thanks:)