Elections BC makes special effort to attract young voters
Last Updated: Saturday, April 18, 2009 | 3:48 PM PT
CBC News
Elections BC is making a special effort to connect with voters for the upcoming election, some of whom will be voting for the first time.
Turnout among younger voters in British Columbia during the last provincial election in 2005 was poor.
Voter turnout was around 58 per cent during the vote that brought the B.C. Liberals to power, but among the 18-24 age group it was only 35 per cent, said Ken Faris, event communications manager for Elections BC.
Faris is trying several methods in hopes of sparking interest among B.C.'s youth.
"We're trying through Facebook, for instance, to reach out to a youth audience," Faris said.
"We've got a youth liaison officer whose job it is to get out in the province to where youth go — either at post-secondary institutions or to work or at home — and again encourage them to vote just like everyone else."
About 3.2 million British Columbians are eligible to vote on May 12.
