A rather distressing story popped up in a few smaller media outlets this week. Alberta based soldiers serving in Afghanistan and other locations will not be able to cast ballots in this province’s municipal elections. The Toronto Star picked up the story, as did 660 News.
Perhaps more shocking than the failure to provide ballots for the troops is the overwhelming silence and indifference in the media and the public. The military does semi-regular flights to Afghanistan. Getting 300 ballots on a C-17 and returning them in time for the Oct 18th election may be possible, and it should be necessary. How can we continue to ask our soliders to serve over seas, claiming they are protecting liberty and the freedoms we enjoy in Canada, while denying them those same rights?
A ballot is more than just a piece of paper.
