Adults won’t be the only ones casting ballots in Monday’s federal election.
Students from 11 schools in Cochrane, and many others in the surrounding area, will be taking part in Student Vote, a nationwide program that brings democracy to life in the classroom.
Étienne Quintal, a research and communications specialist with Civix Canada, which organizes the vote in collaboration with Elections Canada, says it’s much more than just mimicking the voting process. The goal is to build habits and confidence within youth to encourage lifelong participation in Canada’s democratic system.
Student Vote Canada provides students with a meaningful way to experience the democratic process firsthand. Participating schools receive extensive learning materials and authentic voting supplies — including ballots, boxes, and voting screens — to replicate the full experience of an election.
"Students have a real opportunity to approach that parallel election with the same level of knowledge that their parents are going to have," explains Quintal. "Our programs cover everything from the basics of Canadian parliamentary democracy to more niche topics like how political parties communicate, how they build their platforms, and what goes into those platforms."
"We've got some tools that help students not only understand different platform items that the parties have but also to get a sense of their own positioning on the Canadian political spectrum. It’s a holistic program meant to build the habits of voting."
Student Vote is also held in schools during provincial and municipal elections.
RELATED STORIES
Participating Cochrane schools are Bow Valley High School, Cochrane Christian Academy, Cochrane High School, École Notre-Dame des Vallées, Fireside School, Glenbow Elementary, Holy Spirit Catholic School, Manachaban Middle School, Mitford Middle School, RVS Community Learning Centre – Cochrane Campus, and St. Timothy Jr./Sr. High School.
Bearspaw Elementary School will also hold mock votes for Airdrie-Cochrane candidates.
Participating schools in the neighbouring Yellowhead riding include Springbank Community High School, Springbank Middle School, Edge School, and Westbrook School.
The extent to which the Student Vote mirrors the actual local and national election results will begin to be released after polls close on Monday night.
According to data collected by Elections Canada after the 2021 federal election, voter turnout among young people aged 18 to 24 declined to 46.7 per cent in 2021, after peaking in 2015, but remains above the historical average.
In its analysis of the data, elections officials said fewer eligible electors in the 18-24 age group likely received a voter information card telling them when and where to vote during the 2021 general election. This may help explain, in part, the lower turnout rates for this age group.
Statistics women were more likely to vote than men up until age group 65-74, after which the trend reverses.