Voters balance 'hard time believing politicians' with desire to cast a ballot in Manitoba's upcoming election

With days left before Manitoba chooses its next government, Nadia Radi still isn't sure who she trusts enough to vote for.

The 33-year-old said she's leaning NDP — but she's tired of parties going back on promises once they're elected.

"I just have a hard time believing politicians," said Radi, who lives in Winnipeg's St. Vital riding. "They're just always, like, trying to get your vote, right?"

Noel Cheguis, who lives in the Selkirk riding just outside Winnipeg, said he's leaning toward voting Progressive Conservative. While he hopes his choice will help address issues like inflation and crime, he's not convinced any party will actually be able to change anything.

"There's a huge amount of effort that has to be done to solve many of the problems," said the 64-year-old.

"I think it's going to take decades." 

WATCH | Manitoba voters explain why they're cynical about the election:

Both were among a group of Manitoba voters — including several from ridings expected to be key in deciding the province's next government — who shared their thoughts during a focus group a week before the Oct. 3 election.

The focus group was a collaboration between CBC Manitoba and Probe Research, which identified potential participants from its panel and randomly selected nine to ensure a mix that was reasonably representative of Manitoba's demographics.

When the nine voters were asked how many feel cynical that anything will change no matter who wins the election, four raised their hands.

Andrew Barrette, who lives in Winnipeg's McPhillips riding and is thinking of voting Liberal, said he's been put off by how the major parties have focused on attacking each other.

"A lot of it is, 'I stand for everything that is against that other person,'" said the 37-year-old.

That kind of dynamic can turn voters off from participating in the democratic process, said Christopher Adams, an adjunct professor in political studies at the University of Manitoba.

"If you feel that politicians are not fulfilling their promises and not behaving in a legitimate way, then you have less of an incentive to go out and vote," Adams said.