(File photo/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Election 2019

Pushing the vote: why is turnout in Prince Albert so low?

Sep 18, 2019 | 8:00 AM

There are over 56,000 registered voters in the Prince Albert riding, and nearly 30 per cent decided not to vote in the last federal election.

The total number of ballots cast in 2015 was just over 39,600. In comparison, only 50 per cent of registered voters turned out to vote in 2008, and there was a 60 per cent turnout in 2011.

Marie-France Kenny, Regional Media Advisor for Elections Canada told paNOW she hopes the trend changes.

“It’s always a concern to have people not voting. It’s our democracy, it’s our right, and it’s our privilege to vote,” she said.

Conservative incumbent Randy Hoback received 19,673 votes in the 2015 election, accounting for nearly 50 per cent of the total votes cast. NDP candidate Lon Borgerson received the second highest number of votes with 11,244.

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Kenny explained voter apathy is not isolated to the Prince Albert area, but added there were more Indigenous people and young voters casting a ballot in the last election.

Apathy is Boring is among the groups this election, encouraging people to get out and vote, specifically targeting voters between the ages of 18 and 34. Executive Director Caro Loutfi said young voters represent the largest segment of the voting population. She explained their message is clear … every vote counts.

“You can choose either to take part in that decision making process or you can step back and let that change impact you regardless,” she said.

Loutfi said one of the most common arguments by young people who don’t vote, is they feel their vote will not make a difference or the issues don’t impact them personally. Loutfi explained one of the things her group does to encourage young voters is to ask what matters to them, and then tie the answer back to either the provincial or federal levels of government.

“Often what we have found is a lot of people when asked to show up and vote, and are provided with information, are eager to do so and are eager to show up,” she said.

Loutfi noted the group does not tell people who to vote for, or what issues are important. She said one of the main reasons why young people choose not to vote is the feeling of a disconnect, not recognizing the impact of government on our everyday lives.

“It’s not that young people don’t care about issues, they feel very strongly about different issues,” she said. “It’s an action problem so it’s how they are choosing to be heard on those issues and whether or not they choose to show up in formal civic spaces like election day,” she said.

nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell