Press Releases
ELECTIONS CANADA REACHES OUT
TO YOUNG ELECTORS FROM COAST TO COAST
OTTAWA, Wednesday, February 11, 2004 — The Chief Electoral Officer of Canada, Jean-Pierre Kingsley, today announced that he is writing, over the next two weeks, to some 1.1 million young Canadians who turned 18 after the 2000 federal election, reminding them of the significance of their right to vote.
Approximately 800,000 young people who are in the National Register of Electors will receive a card with a message from Mr. Kingsley. Another 300,000 who are not yet registered, or who may not have responded to previous mailings, will receive the card, as well as a registration form.
The mailing is part of a greater, countrywide initiative to ensure that eligible Canadians across the country are registered to vote in upcoming federal elections and that the National Register of Electors is as up to date as possible. The Register is updated regularly with information (name, address, sex and date of birth) supplied by provincial, territorial and federal data sources between elections, and by electors themselves during federal elections, by-elections or referendums. Information for the National Register of Electors is also supplied by the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency, Citizenship and Immigration Canada, and provincial and territorial registrars of motor vehicles and vital statistics, as well as lists of electors from provincial and territorial elections.
The mailing also reinforces Elections Canada's various youth outreach initiatives. First mentioned by Mr. Kingsley at the Symposium on Electoral Participation in Canada at Carleton University last March, the initiative is a clear example of Elections Canada's commitment to reach out to young electors directly and represents a major step in response to the decline in voter turnout, particularly among youth.
The general turnout for the 2000 election was slightly over 64 percent, but the figure was much lower for those aged 18 to 24: barely 25 percent of young electors exercised their right to vote.
"Voting is at the heart of our democratic society. We want to encourage young electors to go out to vote," stated Mr. Kingsley. "We also want to make voting accessible and help young people who are not yet registered to be ready to vote at the next election."
Elections Canada recently launched a new youth Web site with information for young Canadians on the Canadian electoral process. The Young Voters Web site and information on the mailing are available at www.elections.ca.
Elections Canada is an independent body set up by Parliament.
Information:
Elections Canada Media Relations
1 800 267-7360 or (613) 993-2224
or at www.elections.ca