Most young people didn't vote in the last N.S. election. Advocates are working to change that

Katie Reid knows the strain of juggling coursework while working to pay for tuition and cover her bills.

"It's hard because I would love to have all my time devoted to my studies, but I can't because I can't afford it," said the 19-year-old Dalhousie University student. 

Reid wants Nova Scotia party leaders to focus on affordability and the economy and plans to vote in the provincial election this month, but may be in the minority. 

Younger voters had the lowest turnout in the 2021 provincial election. Just 39.1 per cent of registered voters aged 18 to 24 cast a ballot, according to Elections Nova Scotia's votes and statistics report. People in the 25 to 34 age group had an even lower rate of 36.5 per cent.

Students Nova Scotia is one organization working to change that. 

"A lot of students don't vote because they don't see themselves and their needs represented in government," said executive director G Saleski.

Students can also lack the information they need around things like eligibility and where to vote, Saleski said. Students Nova Scotia is setting up on campuses across the province to provide that election information.

The group is also organizing events like local candidate debates and running a campaign encouraging students to pledge to vote. People who pledge have a higher chance of casting a ballot, Saleski said.

"Voting and becoming a lifelong voter is creating a habit," they said. "We need to make sure that we're getting to students … as soon as possible."

New Majority is a non-partisan organization that aims to get out the youth vote across Canada. It had teams on the ground for the recent provincial elections in Saskatchewan, New Brunswick and British Columbia.

The organization is fielding a team for the Nova Scotia election as well.

"The majority of young people who are not engaged politically … don't have plans to vote, don't realize an election is happening and in a lot of cases, have a lot of anxiety about what it means to participate for the first time," said New Majority executive director Amanda Munday. 

Youth get their information from social media and people they're close to, Munday said. And with Elections Nova Scotia deciding not to print voter registration cards this election, that's a "huge disadvantage."

"If you are a young person who's never voted before, who doesn't consider themselves political … then the algorithm's not going to show them election news coverage." 

New Majority prefers in-person voter engagement tactics over digital ones, Munday said.

"When you have a face-to-face conversation with a young person and you get them to make a concrete vote plan or you walk them to the polls … that far and away increases turnout versus a social media campaign." 

In Halifax, the Dalhousie and Saint Mary's University student unions have secured on-campus advance voting locations.

One poll is open at the Dalhousie Student Union Building and will run up to Saturday. Another at the Saint Mary's University O'Donnell Hennessey Student Centre will be open from Nov. 18 to 23.

Both polls run Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., with hours extended to 8 p.m. at all advance polls and Elections Nova Scotia returning offices on Nov. 21 and 22.

Voters can find their nearest polls using this Elections Nova Scotia tool.