Michelle Sparrow is facing a challenging task — to try and register all schools in the Langley School District into the Student Vote program.
The program is a non-profit, non-partisan organization which aims to build the capacity and commitment of young Canadians to participate in their democracy.
Earlier this week, five Langley schools were registered in the program. Sparrow is hoping to see ll schools registered and set to participate in the upcoming May 2 federal election.
The program combines in-class learning, family dialogue, and an authentic voting experience. The purpose of Student Vote is to provide young Canadians with an opportunity to experience the democratic process firsthand and practise the habits of informed and engaged citizenship.
The Student Vote website states: “The program is open to all elementary, middle and secondary schools and there is no cost to participate. At the beginning of the campaign, each school will receive a campaign package tailored to the current election, customized to their school’s needs (by level, language and school size).
“Over the course of the campaign, students get a chance to experience their democracy, actively taking part in the election through classroom activities and school wide events. The activities are intended to inform students about government and the electoral process, and cultivate a sense of civic duty.
“Students use newspapers and online media resources to follow the political parties and learn about election issues. Many schools also organize all-candidate debates to foster dialogue about local issues and promote interaction with the candidates. Students are encouraged to share their newfound political knowledge and interest with their peers, families and the community at large.
“The week before official Election Day, schools host a Student Vote Day to conduct their vote. Schools are required to hold Student Vote Day in advance of the actual election to promote dialogue between students and their families, and to allow Student Vote the necessary time to organize the Student Vote results for release to media partners.
“On Student Vote Day, students take on the roles of deputy returning officers and poll clerks in order to organize their own polling stations. Identical to the official election process, students have the opportunity to vote on the local candidates in their electoral district.
“Once the ballots have been counted, each school submits their vote tallies to the Student Vote Returning Office. All results must stay confidential until the close of the official polls. The results are released publicly on election night, broadcast on TV and published in regional daily newspapers the following day.”
Sparrow had been searching for a program to educate and encourage youth, especially young girls and women, to become engaged in municipal, provincial and federal politics.
“My hope was to start the process by teaching the value of participating in the voting process. I found the Student Vote organization after hours of searching online for an example of just such a project.
“I was so excited to see the work they were doing and contacted them immediately to see how I could get involved.”
Sparrow hopes the the program becomes the standard and that in B.C., during every municipal, provincial and federal election, youth are voting. She says that this program helps ensure that, when the become old enough to vote, it has become a way of life for them,.
She has been visiting Langley schools all week to enciourage them to take part.
Schools must register for the program by April 13. They can register at http://www.studentvote.ca/register.html
