Jo-Ann Roberts wants a ‘Voting Revolution’

With less than two weeks until Canadians cast their ballots with Elections Canada in the upcoming federal election, former CBC journalist and interim Green Party leader Jo-Ann Roberts says now is the time for a calm revolution. Her new book Storm the Ballot Box: An Insider’s Guide to a Voting Revolution, is being promoted across the Maritimes and lays out her case for increasing voter turnout – not through chaos, but through what she calls a calm revolution.

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This election is making headlines, with recent Canada federal election polls showing a tight race between Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre and Liberal Prime Minister Marc Carney, while Green Party leader Elizabeth May and NDP leader Jagmeet Singh continue to help shape the national conversation. Polls however, is one of the problems with the system, alongside lack of education, incentive, opportunity, confidence, and more

Roberts’ visit to Tidewater Books in Sackville on April 5th to promote her new book, Storm the Ballot Box: An Insider’s Guide to a Voting Revolution – couldn’t have come at a better time. As Sackville residents and Mount Allison University students have the opportunity to consider their options, the book encourages voters to learn about their local candidates, understand party platforms, and take time to register to vote before the April 28th deadline. Roberts says participation is more crucial than ever.

“My greatest concern, the reason I’m writing the book,” Roberts said in an interview, “is the drop in voter turnout. In the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s, Canadians voted between 70 and 80%. Now we’re down in the 60s … We’ve had two provincial elections in the last three months where the voter turnout was 45%.”

The 168-page release outlines more than 20 ideas to re-engage the public in the democratic process, many of them small, achievable actions that could help reverse declining voter turnout across the country.

One of her more controversial proposals is to lower the voting age to 16. Roberts believes civic education could help engage younger voters before they leave high school and tune out.

“If we could start making civics compulsory, teach kids about our system… we would have a better chance of getting them to vote in their first election.”

Roberts says we often fail to talk about politics at home or teach Canadian civics at school, and too often rely on American narratives in popular media.

She also raises concerns about political parties not being incentivized to boost turnout. “Political parties, especially the major ones, have figured out who votes for them – and that’s who they want voting.”

To help reverse that trend, she proposes simple ways to make voting feel more valuable: free bus rides, weekend voting, or even free ice cream.

“Why don’t we have voting day as a national holiday? Something that says, yes, you’re doing your civic duty – but we think this is so important, we’re going to reward it.”

Locally, the Beauséjour riding – currently represented by Liberal MP Dominic LeBlanc – will also be one to watch, as voters evaluate their options in a region feeling the pinch of inflation, rising food, electrical and housing costs, shifting trade dynamics under a second Trump presidency, and leadership of New Brunswick’s new premiere, Susan Holt.

She said she understood there are those that feel the entire system is broken and needs a reset. Roberts still says if you’re here and you can, you should vote. Roberts says even a spoiled ballot is more powerful than staying home.

“Take a ballot. If you’re that upset, write something on the ballot… they count spoiled ballots.”

📷 Pics from the event:

Find the Full Interview with Jo-Ann Roberts here below:

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