1 week Ago By By Sophie Henderson
Today, April 28, is Canada’s official voting day for the federal election. Teens in Canada may have found themselves surrounded by election talk for weeks, with those newly turned 18 being faced with a lot of pressure to vote. Read this article for free: Already have an account? As we navigate through unprecedented times, our journalists are working harder than ever to bring you the latest local updates to keep you safe and informed.
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99 a X percent off the regular rate. Today, April 28, is Canada’s official voting day for the federal election. Teens in Canada may have found themselves surrounded by election talk for weeks, with those newly turned 18 being faced with a lot of pressure to vote.
Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? Opinion Today, April 28, is Canada’s official voting day for the federal election. Teens in Canada may have found themselves surrounded by election talk for weeks, with those newly turned 18 being faced with a lot of pressure to vote. The question is, why? Why care about the election? Why go through the trouble of voting? A lot of high school students feel that the election doesn’t affect them.
If you’re not able to vote yourself, it may seem pointless to concern yourself with boring, confusing politics. However, elections are valuable experiences that present the opportunity to learn how to be responsible citizens. Unfortunately, the care-free days of being a non-tax-paying teenager can’t last forever.
If you’re in high school, you may not be of voting age right now. But the fact is, within this political term, you will be. Adulthood is creeping up fast on all of us, and once we turn 18, we’ll be tax-paying adults just like our parents.
It’s notoriously difficult for college and university students to get by on their own when they first move out, and the outcome of the election will have a huge impact on just how difficult it is. The government will instate different policies, depending on the political party, that affect the cost of living, whether that be grocery prices, healthcare, or housing. An Elections Canada logo is shown on Tuesday, Aug 31, 2021.
Sophie Henderson encouragesn prospective young voters to do their research and show up at the polls, as it’s they who will live with the consequences of government decisions the longest. (The Canadian Press files) But according to Elections Canada, youth voter turnout is declining every election. Many studies and surveys show that a lot of teens and young adults feel disconnected from politics for several reasons.
Many don’t feel represented and seen by their political figures. Democracies rely on all citizens to vote so that the elected official truly represents the people. When young people don’t show up to vote, it creates a gap where older generations are overrepresented in politics.
As such, the government makes decisions to cater to that demographic. Instead of letting them make all our choices, let’s make them work for us! If an elected leader sees that a large number of their supporters are from a certain demographic, they will continue to appeal to them to maintain support. Voting is the best way to make sure that politicians are paying attention to your views and concerns.
Some get caught up in the confusion of vague proclamations and the complex election system. Elections work a bit differently here in Canada. Rather than casting your vote for a specific prime ministerial candidate, the leader of the party that garnered the most seats in parliament becomes PM.
Then there’s the task of deciphering the enigmatic statements of politicians. If you watch a debate or read an interview, it can be difficult to understand what someone’s getting at, whether that is due to long fancy words or intentional ambiguity. A good way to find clear, upfront statements about a party’s or candidate’s goals and values is to visit their website.
Most political parties will have a Canada-wide website as well as one that is Manitoba specific. Here you can also find information on the party’s representatives. There are many more websites to help you learn about elections, parties and voting.
Just make sure you’re getting your information from a reliable source! Sometimes there are also events in the community. For example, last Tuesday Neelin held a free “Lunch and Learn” where students eligible to vote could learn more about the process. Another concern for young people is that they may not know how or even where to vote.
You can find out where to vote — known as the polling station — by entering your postal code on the elections.ca website. This site will also tell you what documents you need to bring to register as a voter at your polling station.
It may take a few extra minutes to register on election day, but the time investment is well worth it to ensure your voice gets heard as part of the democratic process. And, of course, remember to be a smart voter. When participating in politics, it’s time to bust out those critical thinking skills you learned in English class.
Always make sure to check your sources, and maintain a questioning approach. Don’t take everything someone says at face value, and be mindful of propaganda and manipulation tactics. Doing your own research on a party or candidate and considering several perspectives is the best way to form your own opinion.
Your vote is your own, and no one can tell you who to vote for. At the end of the day, it’s important to remember that every action has consequences. When a government makes even the smallest choice, it changes the country in a way that will have significant repercussions.
In Canada, the power ultimately falls to voters to decide who will make those decisions. It’s extraordinarily crucial that young people use their right to vote to forge the path to the future. After all, we are the ones who will need to deal with the impacts of these choices for the longest.
» Sophie Henderson is a Grade 11 student at École secondaire Neelin High School Advertisement Advertisement.
