Most young people didn’t vote in the last N.S. election. Advocates are working to change that

As a 19-year-old student at Dalhousie University, Katie Reid understands the struggle of balancing coursework with the demands of working to cover tuition and bills. “It’s hard because I would love to have all my time devoted to my studies, but I can’t because I can’t afford it,” she shared.

With the upcoming provincial election in Nova Scotia, Reid is among the young voters who are calling for a focus on affordability and the economy by the party leaders. Despite her commitment to vote, she may be in the minority. According to Elections Nova Scotia’s post-election report, only 39.1% of registered voters aged 18 to 24 cast a ballot in the previous election, with an even lower turnout of 36.5% in the 25 to 34 age group.

To address this issue, organizations like Students Nova Scotia are working to increase youth voter turnout. Executive director G Saleski highlighted that many students feel their needs are not represented in government, leading to low engagement. Lack of information on eligibility and voting locations also contributes to the low turnout. Students Nova Scotia is actively setting up on campuses across the province to provide election information and organize events like candidate debates to engage students in the electoral process.

Similarly, New Majority, a non-partisan organization aiming to mobilize the youth vote nationwide, is fielding a team for the upcoming Nova Scotia election. Executive director Amanda Munday emphasized the importance of in-person voter engagement tactics over digital campaigns to encourage young people to participate in the electoral process.

In Halifax, student unions at Dalhousie and Saint Mary’s University have secured on-campus advance voting locations to make it easier for students to cast their ballots. These polls will be open from November 18 to 23, with extended hours on select dates. Additionally, Elections Nova Scotia has provided a tool for voters to locate their nearest polling stations.

As the election approaches, efforts to engage young voters and increase turnout are crucial in shaping the future of Nova Scotia. By empowering students like Katie Reid to participate in the democratic process, these organizations are working towards a more inclusive and representative governance.