SASKATOON – A group of Saskatoon Grade 8 students is trying to convince more people to vote in Monday’s federal election. On a recent afternoon, four of the classmates approached two women on the University of Saskatchewan (U of S) campus.
“Excuse me … have you voted or are you going to vote in the 2015 federal election,” asked Everett Pelletier, a Grade 8 student in the Nikanetan leadership program.
The question is part of the students’ election project. Their instructor said he wanted his students to influence the election by getting more people out to vote.
“The goal pretty much has always just been to get them to take ownership of the electoral process,” said Chris Clark, who has taught in the program for nine years.
“Even though they can’t vote because of age, every single election has an impact on them,” he added.
Students in the program have been working on their projects for weeks. Some have canvassed local shopping malls, while others have taken their message to the university.
“We walk around and hold up signs saying vote,” said Miranda Gulliford, a student in the program.
“We just explain to people why they should vote and get people to vote and we just want to make our future different,” said Chenoa Wilson who is also in the class.
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Their approach is the best way to influence voter turnout, according to U of S political scientist David McGrane. He said studies point to social pressure tactics as the best way to get more people to the polls.
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“You have to appeal to people saying, you know, you should vote because you’re expected to, because your friends are voting,” said McGrane.
“It almost creates a bit of a guilt trip, right? It’s interesting to see the people walking by going, ‘oh man there’s a 12- and 13-year-old kid that’s totally engaged in this process and wants to do this,’” added Clark.
The project could also increase voter turnout in the future, McGrane says. He cites studies that show that hands-on electoral education creates voting habits in young people.
“Voting is much like eating your vegetables, or exercising, or any other good habits, the more you do it the more you get used to it,” said McGrane.
It’s a habit that many of the students say they hope to pick up in the future.
“I am excited to vote because it could be my child’s future,” said Pelletier, before heading out in an attempt to influence Saskatoon’s electorate.
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