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VICTORIA – The Province is
supporting democracy, citizenship and is inspiring students to be future voters
with a $75,000 grant to the Student Vote organization, Education Minister
Shirley Bond announced today.
“This
grant supports a non-profit, non-partisan organization that gives students
first-hand experience in the power and responsibility of voting,” said Bond. “A strong democracy begins with a strong
education system.”
More
than 75,000 B.C. students from 400 schools are expected to participate in this
year’s parallel election. During the 2005 provincial election, 66,000 students
from 359 schools cast a Student Vote ballot, and 57,000 students from 314
schools participated in the 2008 parallel federal election.
Student
Vote is preparing for B.C.’s upcoming provincial election on May 12, 2009. In
partnership with Elections BC and the Ministry of Education, Student Vote will
be coordinating a province-wide parallel election and referendum initiative for
all elementary and secondary schools to provide a real-life experience for
students under the voting age. The purpose of the program is to begin a habit
of voting that will last a lifetime.
“How
can we expect youth to understand, value and participate in their democracy, if
they have yet to experience it?” said Student Vote chief election officer
Taylor Gunn. “The Student Vote program provides that opportunity to students
under the voting age, with the hope that by practising now, they will be more
likely and able to participate in the future.”
The 2006 general election showed that
approximately 44 per cent of eligible voters in the 18–24 age group voted
compared to 65 per cent of voters over 24. Analysis
of youth voting behaviour in Canada proposes that turnout is low not because
experienced voters are dropping out of the system, but because potential new
voters are deciding not to take part.
Student
Vote is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that works with educators to establish
habits of democratic citizenship within young Canadians. Since 2003, more than
two million students across Canada have participated in Student Vote parallel
election projects. For more information, visit: www.studentvote.ca.
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contact: |
Ministry of Education 250 356-5963 |
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For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province’s news feeds using RSS, visit the Province’s website at www.gov.bc.ca. |
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