Yorkton Regional High School students today were among one million school-ages students to cast their ballots for federal election candidates across Canada.
Young Canadians have been engaged in debate and discussion about the future of our country, researching the party platforms, consuming news, evaluating the leaders, and posing questions to their local candidates, notes a release from CIVIX Canada, the organization behind the student initiative.
Even though they are under the voting age elementary and secondary students , including those at YRHS had an opportunity to vote for the official candidates running in the 2019 federal election from October 15 to 18.
Student Vote Canada 2019 will be the largest student parallel election held in Canada, and as far as we know, it will be the biggest in the world, noted the release.
More than 9,500 schools had registered to participate, representing all 338 ridings. It is a remarkable effort being led by as many as 25,000 teachers, from Masset, British Columbia to Mary's Harbour in Newfoundland and Labrador, and everywhere in between.
"We sincerely thank the teachers who are making the time to engage their students in the democratic process with the Student Vote program. It is a privilege for CIVIX to support their efforts," said Taylor Gunn, President of CIVIX.
"We are proud to support Student Vote Canada 2019 to allow students to gain the knowledge, understanding, interest, and skills they need to participate in democracy," said Stéphane Perrault, Chief Electoral Officer of Canada.
During National Student Vote Week, students will take on the roles of election workers setting up polling stations, supervising voting and counting the ballots.
The Student Vote results are tabulated by riding and released publicly following the close of polls on October 21.
BACKGROUND:
Student Vote is a program of CIVIX. Student Vote Canada 2019 is made possible by Elections Canada.
CIVIX is a non-partisan registered Canadian charity dedicated to strengthening democracy through citizenship education among school-aged youth.
Elections Canada is an independent, non-partisan agency that reports directly to Parliament.
