According to the CBC Elections Canada is now investigating the Facebook Group Anti-Harper Vote Swap Canada.
“Chief electoral officer Marc Mayrand said Friday that Elections Canada is looking into the scheme.
In an interview with Canadian Press, Mayrand said it may be nothing more than “organized strategic voting,” but it could also fall afoul of a law prohibiting people from selling votes or accepting bribes for them.”
To me this smacks of another Conservative blunder. Surely only the conservatives could have called for this investigation, since they have no one to swap votes with and are the only one with anything to lost. However, by calling attention to the group they have provided publicity for it and increased it’s numbers.
As for the investigation itself there is absolutely no way that they can find any wrongdoing. There is no money changing hands, and this can hardly be construed as a ‘bribe’. The people in this group are doing nothing that politicians across Canada and around the world don’t do on a regular basis.
When politicians swap votes it is generally for something larger: They agree to vote for a bill in exchange for a vote on a different bill, they agree to support a bill if it includes an amendment that benefits them or their constituents, they agree to support a candidate in exchange for some reward down the road if that candidate is successful. This is simply how the game of politics is played.
The individuals looking to swap votes aren’t getting anything nearly as grand in their deals. They are not getting funds set aside for their riding. They are not getting a cabinet post or coveted ambassadorship. They are not gaining favor with a powerful party insider. They are simply doing their best to make the small amount of democratic power afforded to each citizen stretch a little farther.
If Canada had a different system – if it was proportional, or if there were runoffs, or anything beyond first past the post the vote swapping wouldn’t be necessary and wouldn’t work. However, the fact that these people are alert, informed and engaged and are showing a little ingenuity in expanding their democratic rights is no reason for elections Canada to do anything except perhaps applaud them.