Why Students Need to hit the Ballot Box

Excal.on.ca
Oct. 15, 2014

There are 12 days left. Twelve days to make up your mind and make some important decisions. What decision? The decision to vote in your municipal election.

Young people often don’t vote, probably more so in municipal elections. Between the timing and politicians who are often more concerned with grabbing the attention of retirees and business owners, there often is no incentive to vote.

“What’s in it for me?” you might ask.

The decisions made on a national or provincial scale seem so far away, but this election is where one really sees the decision made by government. Municipal governments make the decisions one sees on the ground, issues that directly affect students are more prevalent here, from transit to policing.

If you’re a transit rider like myself, city councilors (and regional councilors, if you live outside Toronto) and mayors have the power to boost or cut transit. Anyone with a younger sibling who is constantly moving schools, or had that experience themselves, will definitely want to look at school trustees, an often overlooked choice on ballots.

Have a kid yourself? Cities and school boards provide daycare spots. If you care about the communities surrounding York, police issues like racial profiling becomes a major issue as mayors often sit on police boards.

Voting is easier than ever, as cities are often throwing themselves at young voters. Today, the city of Vaughan is holding an advance voting opportunity at the Bear Pit in Central Square. Brampton is setting up shop in bus terminals and on buses. While it’s a real pity that there are no advance polls for the city of Toronto held at York, the poll location for Ward 8 is being held at the nearby Driftwood Community Centre.

Who you’re voting for determines how you’re represented in greater society, as well as how your city is reflected in the greater world.

Remember how terrible Toronto was represented with “crack mayor” jokes? Bramptonians are equally sick of the “corrupt city hall” narrative too.

This is your chance to shine and boot out people you don’t like, or reinforce those you do.

Don’t think you have a voice because you’re a new resident to Ontario? If you’re not a Canadian citizen, you’re out of luck, but then it becomes even more important for your citizen friends to vote. A Canadian citizen? Well unlike Quebec, which has residency rules, any Canadian citizen has the right to vote in Ontario municipal elections as long as they live here. So break out your rent agreements and hydro bills, and welcome to democracy.

You have two weeks. Read up and make a choice. Voting is a privilege and a right, and there are no excuses not to.