My key takeaway from the recall petitions unfolding across Alberta today is this: we're successfully getting constituents to engage in genuine civil discourse, building stronger communities, and fostering thoughtful discussions on voting rights, civic duty, and holding government accountable to serve the people—not the reverse. These grassroots efforts remind us that active participation is how we take Alberta forward, together.

Voting is fundamentally a civic duty, not merely a right—something I've always believed, and Australia demonstrates this powerfully in practice. Since introducing compulsory voting in 1924, the country has required all eligible citizens over 18 to cast a ballot (with small fines like ~$20 AUD for non-compliance, though excuses are accepted), while making participation easy and accessible: federal elections are held on Saturdays (avoiding conflicts with work, school, or childcare), polling places are widespread, early voting and postal options are robust, and many sites feature community barbecues. The result? Consistently sky-high turnout—around 90% or higher in recent federal elections (e.g., ~90% in 2025 per the Australian Electoral Commission, and 89.82% in 2022)—far surpassing voluntary systems elsewhere.

In contrast, neither Canada nor the US has compulsory voting. Canada's recent federal elections show turnout typically in the 60-70% range (e.g., ~62.6% in 2021, rising to around 69% in the 2025 election per Elections Canada estimates), while the US sees even lower figures in many cycles (e.g., ~64-66% in the 2024 presidential election, one of the higher recent ones). Closer to home in Alberta, the most recent provincial general election in 2023 saw a voter turnout of 59.5% (with 1,777,321 ballots cast out of 2,987,208 registered electors, per official Elections Alberta results)—down from 67.5% in 2019 but still in line with historical averages for the province.

Treating voting as a shared responsibility—as Australia does—strengthens democracy by ensuring broader, more representative participation, reducing the influence of low-turnout extremes, and reinforcing that every eligible voice shapes our collective future. Let's embrace this mindset here in Alberta and Canada: exercise your franchise as a duty to the greater good, not just an optional right! #VoteDuty #Democracy #AlbertaForward