Jesse, I think that we agree on the fundamental issue that there is a need to unite the progressive vote. It’s methodologies that differ. Sites like Change Alberta are doing things differently, but I don’t think they are doing things smarter or for the long term benefit of the province.

Most voting is strategic in one way or another, voters have a strategy. The notion of being able to predict which candidate is best to support, and declaring it on a website has some serious issues. Not everyone is going to follow these suggestions and therefore votes will remain split. Their analysis to choose the “correct” candidate is not complete. The website does not even provide a reasonable forum for people to discuss the candidates and offer local perspectives.

As new parties come onto the scene, predicting voter outcome is increasingly challenging. Further, having a place that tells undecided voters how to vote, allows voters to make a decision without completely analysing their choices.

As for the frustration over new parties further splitting votes, I agree that this is hard to deal with, but politics are changing in this province. No ruling party that has been voted out of office in Alberta, has ever been reelected. It takes new ideas and brands to form government here. The conservative voters seem to have figured this out.

I’m not yet convinced the Alberta Party is the solution for our future, but I have a strong candidate who has a track record of making progress on issues I care deeply about. They say they are willing to talk about uniting policies and ideas. Instead of beating them up for trying to bring a new voice to this province, I feel we should give their strongest candidates a chance.

We need to vote for what we want if we are ever going to get it. Strategically “guessing” where to place your vote based on incomplete analysis and speculation is not going to get us anywhere fast.

Shauna, don’t you think that a strategic vote is doing something differently? I’ve been voting for the candidate that’s most closely represented my values for over 20 years with no success. I actually think that might be a part of the problem. There are a large number of really excellent people spread throughout the center-left parties. I’ve voted Green, NDP, and Liberal in the past and am intrinsically against the idea of becoming entrenched with any party due to the fact that no party has put forth a platform that completely represents my ideology. I’ve also asked each candidate that I’ve had the opportunity to speak with about the idea of unification for over 12 years. I’ve been so blatant as to ask for commitments from some candidates to be an instrument of unification should they lose. It hasn’t happened. I think we need to vote strategically in this election if only to demonstrate that the will of the Albertan progressive voter is for center-left unification, and send a message loud and clear to the Liberals, NDP, Green, and Alberta party, so we can have a serious bid for unification in 2016. There’s just no telling if the conservatives are going to cooperate in 4 years and provide the left with the opportunity we have now…

Scott, Jesse, I have been voting since Decore had a chance with the Liberals and in that time have seen the progressives make no progress in this province. I agree that a further fractured progressive vote is unfortunate, but believe strongly that if we are going to move forward we need to do things differently. If progressive voters took the time to evaluate the candidates in their riding and then selected the person, not party, that they feel will work the hardest at best representing them, maybe the votes wouldn’t be so split. Then we need to encourage the parties to work together. Shutting out new parties doesn’t seem like the best way to effect change.

Couldn’t agree more with Scott. Thank you.

I think the consensus among those involved with Change Alberta campaign is that there needs to be a unification of left in order to form a serious opposition to the entrenched conservative voice. A strong united left can actually make a difference in the Legislature. Instead, what’s actually happening is a further fracturing of the left with the addition of the Alberta Party as a serious competetor for progressive votes in many ridings. This further dilution of the left has forced the hand of many concerned Albertans who are frustrated with the petty bickering among the Liberals, NDP, and the Alberta Party to mobilize and create a strategic option for those of us who believe anything is better than PC or Wildrose. If the progressive parties are unwilling to unify for the greater good, then let’s do it for them. With the addition of the Wildrose party on the right causing a potential conservative vote split, there’s an unprecedented opportunity for progressives in Alberta to make some very real headway during this election. Glenn Taylor’s choice to take a position against the unification of the left just demonstrates an unwillingness to cooperate.

There is much talk these days of ‘strategic voting’ I support the idea of voting for the candidate you believe in your mind and your heart to represent your voice in the legislature.