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McCoy students gear up to cast vote next week

Apr 4, 2019 | 4:49 PM

 

MEDICINE HAT, AB – A new younger group of voters are entering the election.

Grade 12 students from Monsignor McCoy High School have met three candidates from the Brooks-Medicine Hat riding with hopes of casting an informed ballot next week.

“Having that kind of time to meet and ask questions,” says Deanna Burzminski, social studies department head at McCoy. “What better way to really feel like you have an informed vote to cast.”

Michaela Glasgo from the UCP, Lynn MacWilliam with the NDP and Jim Black from the Alberta Party all spoke to students this week about their plans for Alberta if elected.

Students had the opportunity to ask questions about topics they really care about.

“It’s nice to be able to hear the different stances of the three main parties that are running,” said Cian Crowley, grade 12 student at McCoy. “It affects everybody, politics isn’t something that can really be ignored.”

On April 11, students will cast their own vote, and those results will be announced on April 16, the same day of the provincial election.

“It’s set up exactly the same way as any other polling station, we take in the vote, I count them, It’s kept confidential,,” says Burzminski. “I send the information into the student vote people and they release on the night of the election.”

The point of the initiative is to allow young people to make an informed choice when they’re able to vote in a real election.

“A lot of people grow up with only their parents opinions and it’s really important that they have their own as well,” says Mitchell Backedorf, grade 12 student at McCoy. “We’re the future of the province.”

About 60 per cent of Albertans voted in the 2015 provincial election, Burzminski hopes to increase that by getting students excited about politics.

“I always tell my kids from school that I am so excited to go vote because I love seeing them in the polling stations,” says Burzminski.