Vancouver — This October’s federal election is shaping up to be one of the closest fought elections in recent memory. Students and young people know they have a chance to shape the outcome: for the first time in 40 years young Canadians will make up the largest voting bloc. Launched today, the BC Federation of Students’ “Our Time is Now” initiative aims to mobilize students and young people across the province to vote – potentially for the first time – this October.
“This election is going to be extremely close, and every vote will make a difference,” said Tanysha Klassen, Chairperson of the BC Federation of Students. “Over the next 38 days, student leaders and volunteers will be reaching out to tens of thousands of college and university students, encouraging them to get out and vote by October 21.”
Earlier this month, the BC Federation of Students released a report documenting trends in youth voter turnout over the past decade. Young voters turned out in record numbers in the 2015 federal election, and voter turnout amongst 18 to 24 year-olds increased by over 18%. Moreover, in the 2017 BC election voters in the 18 to 24 year age bracket increased turnout by over 8%, and voted in higher numbers than voters aged 25 to 44.
“Youth voter turnout has steadily increased over the past several elections in BC, and there’s no sign of that changing during this federal election,” said Klassen. “Our time is now – young people are a huge portion of the voter base and we can no longer be ignored.”
More information about the Our Time Is Now campaign, including an online pledge to vote and the Federation’s report on youth voter turnout, can be found at: www.OurTimeIsNow.ca.
