Bowing to Twitter, Canada ends election night gag

[magus_69]

By Randall Palmer | Reuters - 5 hours ago..

OTTAWA (Reuters) - The Canadian government, bowing to the power of Twitter and Facebook, said on Friday it would end a ban on reporting early election results before polls close across the country.

Comments

[mirhanda]

Actually, I think NOT letting them report before the polls close is a good idea. I don't know why they would change.

[tmlforsyth]

I'd agree. I recall returns from the New Hampshire primary being announced before all polls closed, which seems desperation on the part of the media to generate a story.

[romp]

I do recall that. Google tells that a blogger was fined $1000. And the CBC broke the rule but I don't know if they were fined. Still, it seems like it's one thing to have people post on social media and another to have The News report the results.

I recall people wishing for this sort of election news black-out in the US. It wouldn't affect my vote though so it seems a little paternalistic to assume west coasters need protecting. I'd hate to see people use preliminary results as a reason to vote in protest--rather than strategically--but there's little to be done about people like that IMO.

[mirhanda]

I think it's more like "my candidate has already lost so I'm not going to bother to go vote at all." Which would affect any local elections as well.

[romp]

Yeah, that makes sense. I guess we'll just have to prod each other to go anyway.

[minamoto]

ooh, I remember doing #tweettheresults the night of in may. honestly, I think even if they didn't list it nothing would really change - it's impossible to go after everyone even just on Twitter alone, so.