Want Young People to Vote? Include them in the Conversation

David Gray-Donald

Only 39% of Canadians aged 18-24 voted in 2011. In the 25-34 age bracket, the turnout was only slightly higher at 45%, whereas in the older demographic aged 55-74, over 70% of eligible voters went out to cast their ballots in that year.

Numbers in the previous three elections weren’t much different. So why aren’t young people voting? There seem to be a few reasons.

One proposed explanation is that young people simply aren’t asked and encouraged to vote. This view is held by people like Ilana Dougherty of the organization Apathy Is Boring. Dougherty said during the 2011 campaign that in her office full of employees in their 20-somethings, “none of them have received a knock on the door this election.”

She also says that “political campaigns are more interested in persuading the people who [are] already voters than in encouraging young people to cast their first ballot.”

Another reason for not voting may be lack of time, particularly in the case of those with full- time or more than full- time jobs. The election takes place on a work day, with polls not opening until 9:30 am. It can be a hassle to get off work early to avoid lines, or to get to the booth through traffic, then wait in line, then go home to the errands waiting there, particularly when it isn’t a hotly contested riding.

To try to remedy this problem of finding enough time, US presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders has just proposed making Election Day a national holiday. Canadians will have to see if that idea catches on north of the border.

Another reason more controversial and less mainstream reason offered to explain the lack of interest in voting is the view discussed in some circles that voting doesn’t matter much. Take for example Jon Milton, a student in Montreal who wrote an article titled “Why I Won’t Be Voting on October 19” for his campus paper. Milton says “there aren’t many significant differences between the three main contenders for Prime Minister. All three represent colonial capitalism, further climate chaos and various degrees of fiscal austerity.”

Instead of voting, Milton advocates for people to “organize together, and build up community-based power outside of and around the state.” It is a message embraced by some, but not by most.

Another problem may be a dwindling confidence in parliament, something addressed by Matthew McKean in the National Post. This observation, based on surveys across all age groups, is that Canadians in general have less trust in their government than they used to. If people can’t trust any government at all, why would they take time out of their day to show support for one party in particular?

The reasons people don’t vote, whatever they are, help the parties which have confident and eager supporters. Those strong voter bases normally consist of older citizens. Meanwhile, the parties hoping to entice newer voters, including young people, face an uphill slog.

On October 19th, Canadians young and old can choose to head to the polls and have their say. Will they think it’s worth their time?

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