When Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau called for a snap election two years ahead of schedule, Canada was thrown into the 44th Canadian federal election. Unfortunately, unlike previous elections, Elections Canada suspended the Vote on Campus program. This decision is unnecessary and raises questions of voter suppression.
This decision came as a shock to many students. The Vote on Campus program has been a success since it was established in 2015.
The lack of special ballots makes it more challenging for students to vote in their home ridings while away at school.
Politicians have preached about ensuring the country is in good hands for the “youth of the next generation.” Voter turnout increased by 12 per cent in the 2015 federal election when the vote on campus program was introduced compared to 2011.
Not every student is as enthusiastic as some others might be—many look at politicians as broken records, repeating the same promises with no substance. However, having special voting stations on campus reduces barriers to those who may be hesitant to vote. Increasing access to voting stations is one of the easiest things Elections Canada can do to increase voter turnout.
For obvious reasons, the decision to remove special ballots was met with a wave of criticism. The cancellation of the program specifically targets the largest voting demographic this election—millennials and Gen Z.
It is no surprise to many that NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh is pushing hard to engage with the youth both in party platform and on social media platforms such as Tiktok. Some are speculating that cancelling the program can affect the way certain parties perform, such as the NDP.
Even in January, long before any election was foreshadowed, the NDP held a strong advantage over other parties when it came to 18 to 24-year-olds. With a growing social media presence and policies that are attractive to younger voters—such as affordable post-secondary, medicare for all, and a plan that recognizes climate change as an emergency—reducing access to polling stations is a big blow to the NDP.
Singh himself spoke on the matter during his time in Winnipeg—he is afraid this decision might discourage students from voting entirely.
Elections Canada needs to rethink the decision of suspending the on campus voting program. If they truly do care about having the youth engaged in the election and towards politics as a whole, electoral officials will need to show it.
Featured image by Spencer Colby.
