As the municipal election nears, many young people are wondering whether they’ll vote this year.
This might be a very straightforward answer but for others, it’s much more complex.
According to Statistics Canada, the voter turnout rate for people aged 18 to 30 was only 52.5 per cent in the 2018 municipal election. While people aged 47 and older had a turnout rate of 77.7 per cent.
When comparing the two age groups, there’s a notable difference.
Younger generations are growing up in a very different world, a world where striving for change is pushed with resources like social media and various forms of protests.
Many believe young people just don’t care about politics but in reality, young people all across Canada constantly challenge old and outdated values.
Generation Z has a reputation for being social justice warriors, something that’s amateurish, yet at its core it is a strong belief in our democracy and a fight to improve it.
The real problem that many young people face when it comes to voting is time. A lot of us are in college and have to work minimum-wage jobs to support ourselves.
Statistics Canada said 25 per cent of young voters did not cast a ballot in the 2021 federal election because of their busy schedules.
Even though this is a statistic on the federal election, it gives a good idea of one of the main problems with voting in Canada.
Voting can be secondary for everyday Canadians trying to support a family and have a million other commitments.
This is a time that some people don’t have and therefore cannot afford to vote simply for this reason.
There is a solution to this problem: virtual or online voting. The only obstacle is a lack of provincial standards for online voting. Depending on what municipality you live in, there might not even be an option to vote online. Vaughan allowed online voting in this year’s municipal election.
Another reason could be that some people might not understand the importance of a municipal election. Many young people only tend to focus on federal and provincial elections.
Personally, I’d rather vote in the municipal election instead of the provincial or federal election. The problems discussed are more relatable to me since it’s in my own community.
Another way to look at this situation is saying young people just don’t care about politics and for certain people that is true.
Statistics Canada also reported that 33 per cent of eligible Canadians didn’t vote in 2021 because they didn’t care about politics. This was the most common reason for not casting a ballot.
The problem goes beyond age. Some people just don’t care about it and have given up hope in voting. People have simply lost hope in empty campaign promises that never seem to come true.
It makes us wonder if our votes even matter.
The truth is that your vote does matter, if you feel strongly about making a difference in your community and city, voting should be your main priority. Every vote counts and it is important for all Canadians to participate in their civic duty to vote in every election.
Not everyone will be happy with the results of an election but that’s what a democracy is all about.