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Stop telling young people they don’t vote

This tired narrative couldn’t be further from the truth.
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Stop telling young people they don’t vote

As a student who is going to be voting in this provincial election, I am sick of hearing older generations talking about how young people don’t care and aren’t politically engaged.

I hear this tired narrative in media and from community members in every election cycle, and it couldn’t be further from the truth. At the same time, we are talked down to; as students and youth, we are told that we are the future of British Columbia. That’s entirely true, and I think it’s time to start giving us the credit that we deserve.

I was a voter in the last federal election. Did you know that the youth 18-24 years old in British Columbia had the second-highest voter turnout increase in the country? Times have changed. Simply repeating old tropes about unengaged youth is not only misleading, it’s irresponsible.

Sending youth discouraging messages only continues to discourage us. Hearing more about the strides we have made to increase voter turnout will lead to more of the same. We are ready to participate in this election and we are ready to make a difference!

Aubrey M Robertson

Chairperson