Connecting with young voters

No matter how gruelling the leaders’ campaign schedules are, the one group they seem to have trouble connecting with are young voters. We spoke to some of those eligible voters today to hear what they had to say.

If there’s one group that feels disengaged and uninformed about the election process it’s voters between the ages of 18 and 24.

“I don’t know anything about it. To be honest, I didn’t know it was election day tomorrow.”

Many who are aware it’s election day tomorrow are still saying they won’t vote.

“I’m actually 24 and I’m probably not voting because I’m not sure what’s going on.”

Others say voting’s not a priority.

“Because I have to go online and researched who’s doing what, and where it’s going.”

The numbers bear out the low voter turnout. In the 2011 federal election, less than 39 percent cast a ballot and in the provincial election the same year the voter turnout was even lower.

Young people have a lot at stake in this election. The youth unemployment rate in Ontario is double digit and twice the national average. Ontario students carry the highest debt load in the country. An average of 28 thousand dollars.

“I do plan to vote because I’m a director of the west Niagara federal Liberal association. And I’m a proud supporter of the Liberal party.”

“I do plan to vote. I think it’s important personally. I think that’s true a lot of people aren’t engaged.”

Most of the students we talked today at Brock University say they do plan to vote tomorrow.

“I was planning to bring my voting card and ID and hopefully have proof that I live in Niagara region.”

“If you don’t vote, you don’t have a say in what happens.”