To expand on a comment by DougP on another post, strategic voting is an option for some people in this election. For example, if you would normally support the NDP but your candidate has no chance of winning, you might still be able to have an impact on the outcome of the election by voting for the party that is your second choice.
Whether or not you vote strategically is a question of your own personal philosophy. Some people believe you should never do it - that you should always vote your conscience. I have voted strategically on occasion and would probably do so again under the right circumstances. However there is no point in voting strategically if doing so will have no impact on the outcome.
Greg Morrow at democraticSpace has prepared a strategic voting guide. For strategic voting to make sense, Greg sets out three criteria that must be met:
1. It must be a close 2-way race (i.e. the two other parties must be within 5%)
2. The chances of your party winning riding are remote (i.e. support < 25%)
3. Small number of votes will make a difference (i.e. < 1 in 3 voters).
For example, for NDP supporters there are 35 ridings where strategic voting might make a difference. That isn't a lot of seats but it could have a profound affect on the composition of the next parliament and on the future of the country.
I am not even going to make a recommendation one way or another. However, if you think the stakes are high enough for you to consider voting strategically, check out Greg's site first. Then make up your mind.
And yes, I know this is all a good reason for proportional representation and so does Greg. But that isn't on the table for this election. Plan 'B' is.
Right on mahigan!
"However there is no point in voting strategically if doing so will have no impact on the outcome."
In fact voting stategically where it has no effect only hurts the party you support since the public funding each party receives is dependent on how many votes they pull.
Just a cautionary note. Consider carefully before voting strategically and look both ways before crossing the street! ;-)
Not to mention that another minority government at this crucial point may well be the only chance we ever have to get proportional representation ...
I think the only way to elect any Green MP's or MLA's is to vote NDP.
I believe you need to change your comments in the Conservative Startegic voting section. It says``where the Liberals have no chance of winning`` when you meant to say the Conservatives have no chance of winning.
I don't have a post on Conservative strategic voting. I think you meant to post this over at Greg Morrow's blog democraticSpace.