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Should the Federal Election Date Be Moved To Accommodate Orthodox Jews?

Carjosse

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If you have not heard yet (CBC):
The Federal Court has ordered the chief electoral officer to review his decision to not recommend a change in the scheduled federal election date — October 21 — which coincides with a Jewish holiday.

Orthodox Jewish candidate Chani Aryeh-Bain, who is running for the Conservatives in the Toronto-area riding of Eglinton-Lawrence, and Ira Walfish, an Orthodox Jewish political activist, said Elections Canada's Stéphane Perrault did not properly consider their rights under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

"... This judicial review is granted as the overall decision of the CEO does not demonstrate the hallmarks of transparency, intelligibility and justification, as it is not possible to determine if he undertook the necessary proportionate balancing between the applicant's charter rights and the exercise of his statutory duty," says the Federal Court ruling.

The current election date coincides with the Jewish holiday of Shemini Atzeret, which begins Oct. 20 and ends Oct. 22. Aryeh-Bain argued that during the holiday, observant Orthodox Jews must refrain from a number of activities — including voting and campaigning — and cannot ask others to work for them.

According to the judgment, the Oct. 12 advance polling day conflicts with the Sabbath, while the Oct. 14 advance polling day coincides with the festival of Sukkot, a Jewish holiday.

I think it is ludicrous to change the election date just because it falls on a minority religious holiday that also just so happens to restrict voting for some reason. There are other options for those affected to vote, they can request a mail-in ballot or as Scheer points out at that riding's Elections Canada office on any weekday during the writ period, so five whole weeks before the election date they can vote. I think Elections Canada has made a reasonable attempt to accommodate them.

The only reason the candidate is doing this is because it might hurt her chances of winning. Also if it does have to move you can throw out all the organization and taxpayer money spent by the government and parties based on the current date.
 
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If you have not heard yet (CBC):


I think it is ludicrous to change the election date just because it falls on a minority religious holiday that also just so happens to restrict voting for some reason. There are other options for those affected to vote, they can request a mail-in ballot or as Scheer points out at that riding's Elections Canada office on any weekday during the writ period, so five whole weeks before the election date they can vote. I think Elections Canada has made a reasonable attempt to accommodate them.

The only reason the candidate is doing this is because it might hurt her chances of winning. Also if it does have to move you can throw out all the organization and taxpayer money spent by the government and parties based on the current date.

Carjosse:

This is an election for a secular state. Hold the election as planned and use advanced voting to accomidate the Jewish Orthodox candidates and voters whose beliefs constrain them from voting or working on the day. Worst case scenario, delay the vote in those two riding alone if a court orders a delay. Then change the law to stop religious beliefs from distorting the mechanics of secular elections.

Cheers.
Evilroddy.
 
If you have not heard yet (CBC):


I think it is ludicrous to change the election date just because it falls on a minority religious holiday that also just so happens to restrict voting for some reason. There are other options for those affected to vote, they can request a mail-in ballot or as Scheer points out at that riding's Elections Canada office on any weekday during the writ period, so five whole weeks before the election date they can vote. I think Elections Canada has made a reasonable attempt to accommodate them.

The only reason the candidate is doing this is because it might hurt her chances of winning. Also if it does have to move you can throw out all the organization and taxpayer money spent by the government and parties based on the current date.

They can vote absentee.
 
They can vote absentee.

They don't even have to do that, they have basically an entire month where they can go vote in person. This is an urban riding not some remote rural riding, it is reasonable for them to travel to the riding office to vote.
 
No, I don't think the date should be moved, that would be unreasonable. if they can vote on other days or by absentee ballot, then there's not an issue. Sounds like political funny business to me.
 
If you have not heard yet (CBC):


I think it is ludicrous to change the election date just because it falls on a minority religious holiday that also just so happens to restrict voting for some reason. There are other options for those affected to vote, they can request a mail-in ballot or as Scheer points out at that riding's Elections Canada office on any weekday during the writ period, so five whole weeks before the election date they can vote. I think Elections Canada has made a reasonable attempt to accommodate them.

The only reason the candidate is doing this is because it might hurt her chances of winning. Also if it does have to move you can throw out all the organization and taxpayer money spent by the government and parties based on the current date.

You are a liberal?
You can’t accommodate the voters?
In the states most states are moving to early voting options.
Maybe you are just anti Semitic? Isn’t that what a liberal would say to a conservative?
 
You are a liberal?
You can’t accommodate the voters?
In the states most states are moving to early voting options.
Maybe you are just anti Semitic? Isn’t that what a liberal would say to a conservative?

There are accommodations, there are other ways to vote. This in no way prevents them from voting in the election.
 
There are accommodations, there are other ways to vote. This in no way prevents them from voting in the election.

What is wrong with early voting as an option?
 
What is wrong with early voting as an option?

I never said there was anything wrong with it, in fact it is why I said moving the date is a laughable idea, there are other options for them to vote. Every weekday for five whole weeks they can vote at the riding's Election Canada office or they can request a mail-in vote. There is no obstacle to them voting in the election, even with the current date.
 
In the past, election dates were set on a few weeks notice when the writ was dropped. If you can't run a campaign in 35 days, you should consider letting some one who knows what they are doing handle it. Fixed election dates was a bad idea. Change the date.
You cannot claim we are a secular state when our Head of State is the leader of the Anglican Church.
 
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In the past, election dates were set on a few weeks notice when the writ was dropped. If you can't run a campaign in 35 days, you should consider letting some one who knows what they are doing handle it. Fixed election dates was a bad idea. Change the date.
You cannot claim we are a secular state when our Head of State is the leader of the Anglican Church.

Why should we change the date to accomodate a religious minority that has other options to vote? Where do we draw the line? I am sure you can find some religious holiday virtually everyday from some religion.

Fixed election dates are not a bad idea. It doesn't change the fact that plans have been made already. Canada is a secular state regardless of the queen.
 
The problem with fixed dates is it creates a permanent campaign. As much as I love getting out on the hustings, Parliament needs to have a break to govern.
Fixed dates don't provide the flexibility needed to avoid these situations. In the past, they took care to look for a date that didn't conflict with other events. Having a day when everyone goes to the polls together enhances the ritual of one of our most sacred national privileges.
 
Though I'm not dead set against changing the date, it certainly shouldn't be changed on this account; let them vote early.
 
The problem with fixed dates is it creates a permanent campaign. As much as I love getting out on the hustings, Parliament needs to have a break to govern.
Fixed dates don't provide the flexibility needed to avoid these situations. In the past, they took care to look for a date that didn't conflict with other events. Having a day when everyone goes to the polls together enhances the ritual of one of our most sacred national privileges.

Even without fixed dates you know when the next election will be, 4 years after the last one. The only case it has in the past not be known is when an election is called early and that can still happen.
 
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