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A vote is a precious thing, even if we don’t treat is as such. Half of us can’t be bothered to get to a polling station on election day, and even if we do, often there is little that excites us about the candidates. It is, however, the foundation of our representative democracy, and as such should be treated with the utmost respect. It is meant to be earned by people who have good ideas and who are driven by public service. It’s always there for those who finally choose to plug in, and it stands as a warning to those who would abuse our trust while in office.

Voter suppression is a grave crime, even if we don’t always treat it as such. It isn’t “playing the game” or “part of politics,” as it is sometimes referred to here and elsewhere.

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It’s a grave crime because it is an attack on us all, and on those who have fought for our right to cast a ballot.

On Thursday, a judge found former Conservative campaign worker Michael Sona guilty under the Elections Act of wilfully preventing or endeavouring to prevent a voter from casting a ballot. Judge Gary Hearn ruled that Sona was “actively involved” in the infamous robocalls scheme to send non-Tory supporters to the wrong polling location in Guelph, Ont. on federal election day in 2011.