Does strategic voting make a difference?

A voter casts a ballot in the 2011 federal election in Toronto on May 2, 2011. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris YoungTORONTO -- With the Liberals and Conservatives in a dead heat ahead of Monday’s vote, discussions about minority governments and strategic voting have reached a fever pitch.The practice of casting a ballot in favour of a party perceived as having the best chance of preventing an election outcome undesired by the voter is not uncommon in Canadian elections, at all levels of government.

“You want to choose the person who will be the most responsible decision maker,” but also be willing to make some compromises in that choice, Brock said. “For example, in Alberta you can vote as strategically as you want, but when the Conservatives are very likely to win more than 50 per cent of the vote in most ridings, it doesn’t matter what strategy you have in mind.”“Every vote is important…but you need a lot of other people to be thinking the same way you are in your riding, in terms of strategy.”

Pollster Nik Nanos said strategic voting “does happen and it can work,” but usually in situations where one party is the frontrunner and some voters want to change that. The latest Nanos nightly tracking numbers have the Conservatives at 31.6 per cent support and the Liberals at 31.5 per cent.

not with that many parties ... you either vote for the leaders or you just wasted your vote

Don't vote for the Bloc, their aim is to destroy Canada.

No never

Vote early and vote often.

Yes

Stupid headline. 'Does voting even accomplish anything?' CTV is complicit in the biggest shit sandwich ever served up in my electoral experience, going back to 1984.

Vote for the party you want. Albertans were surprised to learn that when they elected an NDP government as a province wide 'protest vote'. Raquel was so 'likeable' and did well in the debates. Everywhere except a pocket in Edmonton kicked them out this year. One bad term.

Yes.

Hope so.

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