Elections BC is encouraging young people to register to vote ahead of numerous voting opportunities. General election day for the upcoming provincial election is Saturday, Oct. 19. (Dreamstime)

By NanaimoNewsNOW

election season

Push for more young voters to participate with provincial election looming

Sep 17, 2024 | 12:43 PM

NANAIMO — Elections BC is trying to get a boost in young voters showing up to polling stations this fall, which lags behind other age groups.

Andrew Watson, senior director of communications for Elections BC, noted the turnout rate from the 2020 B.C. election was 54 per cent (61 per cent in 2017) with 18 to 24-year-olds voting at a 45 per cent rate.

“Young voters do face additional administrative barriers that we work to address, they often are more mobile than other voters, moving around a lot, so their voter registration may not be as up to date.”

Watson said Elections BC has conducted registration drives in communities across the province, including on post-secondary campuses.

He said key benefits to being registered with your existing address is ‘where to vote’ locations are stated, which eases the voting process.

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Six days of advanced voting are scheduled ahead of general election day: Oct. 10-13 and Oct. 15 & 16.

General election day is Saturday, Oct. 19.

Advance voting has increased in popularity over the years with Watson noting under 10 per cent of voters took advantage of showing up to polls early in 2001, compared to 35 per cent in the 2020 B.C. election.

More information on voting for the upcoming provincial election can be found here.

Voter registration cards were recently mailed out to British Columbians.

–with files from 97.3 The Eagle

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