In about six months, Ontario will hold a general election to determine its next premier. For the Conservatives, this election is a ray of hope to end the 15-year Liberal hold on the Premier’s office with the newly appointed leader of Ontario’s Conservative Party, Patrick Brown. For the Liberals, on the other hand, this election will be a constant parade of the Liberal track record in Ontario as the current Premier, Kathleen Wynne, vies to remain in office.
The upcoming election, however, means something different for student voters—many of whom are likely to be voting for the first time. Students, in turn, must decide whether they have any interest in provincial politics and, if so, who they will cast their ballot in favour of in the upcoming months.
With this election, I would hope to see a higher youth voter turnout rate. I know this is an issue worn ragged, but I believe it has since been invigorated with the results of the United States election in 2016 and the appointment of Donald Trump as president. Although Hillary Clinton won the popular vote, the reality of democracy and the power of the ballot were realized en masse across the United States and I am hopeful that America’s northern neighbour took notice as well.
With that being said, I don’t believe the result of the 2016 U.S. election alone will compel youth to vote. I believe the candidates need to do a much better job at recognizing youth as serious voters and using the speaking time to address youth issues in a vocal manner rather than having them lost in the obscurity of formal platforms.
As a political science student and a registered Liberal, I am fiercely opposed to the perception that age defines political interest.
Youth want to make informed decisions about the future of their province and their country, but that is difficult when campaigns and debates are neither tailored to, nor designed to include youth. Studies also indicate that youth not registered at a post-secondary institution and youth born in another country are less likely to vote.
Thus, I would like to see candidates devote more time talking about youth issues, make more of an effort to earn the youth vote, and make voting more accessible to students who do not attend a post-secondary institution.
A fellow student recently asked me if voting online was possible. The answer is no. Voting online in municipal elections is allowed, but not in provincial or federal elections. He then asked me how to vote.
These are important questions with straightforward answers, but students and youth remain in the dark. Young people are tired of being out of the loop and excluded from conversations that affect them.
Every election and every campaign differs from years prior regardless of voters who are convinced that every election is just a regurgitation of party lines and broken promises.
I would, in turn, love to see the 2018 election candidates advocate for youth issues with unprecedented priority and a noticeable change from the stagnant youth voter turnout rate.
