ELECTION ACTION GUIDE: The Individual Voter


Your power -- your vote

   You do make a difference and exercise enormous power during an
election. Politicians respond to constituents at election time
because of the possible reward, your vote.
   Your vote decides who will represent you in Ottawa for the next
four or five years. Your are the one who decides who will get the
job.
   Don't diminish your individual importance in this process. To a
candidate, each vote is as important as the next, and most
candidates will work very hard to get yours.
   Election time is when you have real power -- the power to vote,
to influence how your friends vote, and to influence the political
agendas of candidates and parties.
   Candidates will have an army of volunteers swarming your
neighbourhood, canvassers knocking on your door, phoning you,
trying to influence how you will vote. This is your chance to be
heard.
   As a lesbian, gay man or bisexual, you are part of a major
voting block that could determine the outcome of the election, both
in your riding and nationally. Together, our community of about two
million voters can make a real difference.
   That's why it's important for you to get active, participate in
the process and find out as much as you can about what the
candidates and the parties will do after they get elected on the
issues you care about.

Action checklist

* Make sure you vote: Call any candidate's office or the returning
office in your riding to make sure you're on the voters list.

* Engage canvassers or candidates at the door: We encourage you to
assert your sexual orientation at the door to canvassers or to the
candidates who come knocking. Ask for the candidate's views on
sexual orientation issues. If not immediately available, ask for
someone to call you back or ask for a written response. Don't let
them know how you're going to vote until you get the answers. Make
them work to get your vote!

* Attend candidates meeting: Find out about candidates meetings
from your local newspaper or by calling any candidate's office.
Hearing the candidate personally is one of the best ways to get the
information you need. Take the time to ask a question -- prepare
ahead by writing it down.

* Share the information you have with friends, family and
colleagues: And don't assume that only queers care about sexual
orientation issues.

* Get involved in a candidate's campaign: Once you've made your
choice, volunteer to work for that candidate, or take a sign.
Again, we encourage you to assert your sexual orientation. Make it
clear to the candidate and other volunteers that they have your
support because of the candidate's or party's position on sexual
orientation issues.

* Get involved in your local gay community's election efforts: Many
lesbigay groups will need extra hands during the election campaign
to ensure information gets out to the community.  Call EGALE at 1-
613-230-1043 if you're unsure how to reach a local group. Leave a
message and an evening telephone number on our answering machine
and we'll get back to you.


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