Join this group: Free Fare Elections!

As Canadians we are very lucky to be able to vote whenever and however we want. The crisis in Libya is proof of that. But many of us also take advantage of the fact that we can drive or walk to the polling stations that are sometimes just a stones throw away from where we live and work.

But not everyone in this country is that lucky. A new Facebook group in Calgary is aiming to make sure that no one has trouble getting to the polls on election day. The group is asking that Calgary city transit be free on election day. They say, if it was city buses and Ctrain were free, voters would have more options to get themselves to the polls and that will hopefully ensure a large turnout of people who wouldn’t normally vote.

While I’m not usually a believer in the power of Facebook groups (Betty White excluded,) I wanted to let you know about this group because I think it is such a great idea.

I know that many political parties offices offer drives to polling stations but I’ve always felt that that was their way of securing extra votes. Not that the people they pick up have to vote for the party that drove them, but it plays to the human nature of Canadians and assumes that they probably will.

I’m not sure if Facebook groups like Free Fare Elections exist around the country, but if they do, let me know and I’ll post their links too. It’s not often that Calgary is on the forefront of such an important initiative, here’s hoping the other cities take note.

It’s a small group right now, so I’d love if checked the page out and ‘like’ it. Even if you don’t live in Calgary, the bigger the numbers, the faster word will spread. Even you really, really like it, make sure you click the ‘share’ button and post it on your wall.