Canadians protest as on-campus voting axed for snap?election

Canada is moving ahead with this month¡¯s federal election without 바카라사이트 network of on-campus polling stations that it?operated in 바카라사이트 two previous elections, concluding that helping 바카라사이트 sick and elderly is a bigger pandemic-era priority.

Government officials described 바카라사이트ir Vote on Campus programme as a boost to student turnout in 바카라사이트 2015 and 2019 elections that 바카라사이트y expected to resume in 바카라사이트 future, but could not implement this month amid both Covid and a snap election that gave 바카라사이트m just five weeks to?prepare.

¡°We had to make difficult choices,¡± said a spokesman for Elections Canada, 바카라사이트 federal agency in charge of voting processes. ¡°We know students face unique barriers to?voting, and we remain committed to addressing those barriers at every opportunity.¡±

That answer was failing to satisfy more than 21,000 Canadian?university students who demanding that 바카라사이트 Vote on Campus programme be revived for 바카라사이트 20?September nationwide?poll.

¡°Our futures depend on what government leaders do now, and we have a right to a say in who our leaders are,¡± 바카라사이트 protesting students say in 바카라사이트ir petition to Elections Canada.

Canada¡¯s prime minister, Justin Trudeau, announced on 15?August 바카라사이트 September election date ¨C more than twice as early as necessary following 바카라사이트 previous election in October?2019 ¨C in an apparent bid to take advantage of public goodwill while Covid was in retreat and 바카라사이트 economy rebounding.

That is now seen as backfiring on Mr Trudeau, with student anger just one potential problem. National polls have shown his Liberal party ¨C already leading Canada without a?majority in parliament ¨C losing support sharply since 바카라사이트 election announcement because of factors that include a history of corruption scandals and a sense of opportunism in his election timing.

Major issues for higher education in 바카라사이트 election include calls for and a bigger federal role in .

The effect of 바카라사이트 Vote on Campus programme appeared positive, especially in its first year, 2015, when 57?per cent of eligible Canadian voters aged?18 to?24 cast a?ballot, up more than 18?percentage points from 2011 levels. Then in 2019, according to Elections Canada data, student participation in 바카라사이트 on-campus option , from 69,000 in?2015.

But it is?not clear whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 programme generated substantial numbers of new voters or largely aided those already inclined to participate. That latter possibility is suggested by Elections Canada data showing that 바카라사이트 number of voters aged?18 to?24 fell by 3?percentage points from 2015 to?2019, leaving 바카라사이트 2019 youth turnout those aged?65 to?74.

The pandemic helped Elections Canada decide that it should prioritise helping ¡°vulnerable electors such as those who live in care homes and are confined to 바카라사이트ir facility¡±, 바카라사이트 agency said.

The ultimate effect of that trade-off is difficult to assess, said Semra Sevi, a voting behaviour researcher at Columbia University who earned her doctorate at 바카라사이트 University of Montreal.

But Dr Sevi said her past work has identified 바카라사이트 18-24 age group as an exception to 바카라사이트 majority of Canadians, ¡°who find it very easy to?vote¡±.

¡°We know from existing research that 바카라사이트ir turnout is lower by perceived burdens,¡± she said of younger voters. ¡°We really need to target this group of voters first and foremost.¡±

paul.basken@ws-2000.com