B.C. students vote in the election too — although not officially
Posted October 15, 2022 8:27 pm.
Last Updated October 15, 2022 8:39 pm.
A national program is teaching school children how to vote across the Lower Mainland.
In classrooms across B.C., children participated in a process that mimics voting in real elections.
In a tweet, Burnaby’s Parkcrest Elementary School said that their school participated, with some students even acting as poll workers.
Schools can register to be a part of Student Vote Canada, a free, non-partisan civic election program.
Children and teens participating are able to follow through the whole voting process, from casting ballots to running in the mock-election.
“Students take on the role of election workers and coordinate a vote within their school. Participating students cast ballots for the election candidates running in the school’s electoral district. The results are shared publicly after the close of polls,” Student Vote Canada said.
After a school registers with the program, “Schools are supplied with print and online pedagogical materials, posters and election supplies,” Student Vote Canada said on their website.
The program is targeted at students from grades 4 to 12. “The activities are intended to inform students about government and the electoral process, enhance information literacy skills, encourage research into the candidates and issues, and foster dialogue among students and their families,” the organization noted.
Stéphane Perrault, Elections Canada’s chief electoral officer, explained in a video, “Student vote candidate increases a student’s knowledge of politics and elections. It promotes political discussion, enhances their sense of civic duty, and strengthens their future intentions to vote.”
Perrault says that as a part of the program’s mandate, the hope is to teach young Canadians the importance of electoral democracy.
