Signs in Regina encourage people to 'Just Vote' in 2015 federal election

Lawns are a lot more colourful these days as residents nail down signs of the party or candidate they support for the upcoming federal election.

But among the blue, red and orange mini-billboards that are common along Albert Street in Regina, there’s one sign strapped to a tree in the south end of the city that somehow manage to stand out from the rest.

Jessi Nenson helped make the sign. It’s encased in plastic wrap to protect against rain and moisture. That’s proven unsuccessful as part of the red and blue writing is smudged.

There were three other signs too, but they fell down.

They might not be professional grade, at least to the same standard of the signs of politicians, but she explained they still pack an important message.

“To get people to go and vote. Not vote for one particular party but vote in general.”

Nenson is encouraging people to ‘Just Vote’ during the election. While her signs reads 49.9 per cent of eligible voters didn’t cast a ballot during the last federal election, Elections Canada has that number at 38.9 per cent.

Either way you slice it, millions of people chose not to cast a ballot.

“I think that is appalling considering the fact that we live in a democratic society,” she said. “There are so many countries in the world that don’t allow people to vote or only allow a small percentage of them to vote.”

As to why some don’t feel the need to head to the polling stations, Nenson could only offer up a few guesses including laziness. She believes some forget while others fall back on convenient excuses why they didn’t vote.

“This is a democratic society and we should celebrate that. I feel personally that voting is a civic sacrament.”

Nenson plans to put up more posters and signs along Albert Street South along with certain sections of Victoria Avenue all in the hopes the message will sink in with would-be voters.