Looking Past Cynicism As Advance Voting Opportunities Diminish

There are only three days left of advance voting in Barrie before the big day, and it may be upping the frustration level.

[perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]”Politicians are not the most trusted group of people in the world”[/perfectpullquote]

Voter turnout for municipal elections has been historically rather low, considering how much municipal decisions affect individuals. Barrie 360 Political Correspondent Dr. Michael Johns of Laurentian University says, among other factors, is cynicism. “”Politicians are not the most trusted group of people in the world, and we’re seeing around the world a backlash against regular politicians […] and you do see every once in a while candidates running saying “I’m not a politician”, well if you’re running for office, you’re a politician. We have to get past this idea that it’s such a bad thing.”

Replacing paper ballots with digital screens is one way municipalities are trying to increase voter turnout

Johns recognizes its hard to tell a candidate’s true motivation for running for office, but he does point out those who run at the municipal level generally have good intentions. “It isn’t the most glamorous job, as much as many people may think. It doesn’t pay as well as people think that it does. So people are doing this for the right reasons. And if they’re not, then you should be able to identify that and hold them accountable by not voting for them.”

Related: Voting Couldn’t Be Easier

Barrie residents can cast an advance ballot between 1pm and 8pm Thursday and Friday, and 9am to 8pm Saturday, at the following locations: