With the federal election around the corner, young voters can make their voices count — right on main campus.

To help increase voting access for younger voters, Elections Canada is setting up early polling stations the week of April 13 at university and college campuses across the county.

“It certainly is important,” says political science professor and department head Lydia Miljan. “Really, the only way to get your voice heard is to exercise your right to vote.”

For many, this will be their first time eligible, and Dr. Miljan says it should be celebrated as a rite of passage.

“It’s a really exciting thing to do,” she says.

“Regardless of who you support in the election, it is important to have your voice heard and to go through the process of it. In part, it also helps whichever government becomes elected to have more legitimacy. The higher the voter turnout, the more legitimate we feel that we all had our say. We might not agree at the end with what happened, but we know that we’ve exercised our vote, and that is an important part of a healthy civic society.”

It’s also a habit that is best developed early, she notes.

“What we know from the research is that those who vote early in their lives are more likely to pick up the habit and continue that throughout their lives,” she says.

While intended for students, any citizen can register to vote online and cast their ballot on campus ahead of Election Day at the CAW Student Centre on:

• Sunday, April 13, from noon to 6 p.m.
• Monday, April 14, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Tuesday, April 15, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Wednesday, April 16, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

To vote, you must be a Canadian citizen, be at least 18 years old on election day, and prove your identity and address. Learn more.

Miljan points out that Canadians are highly engaged in this election, and for many young voters, the issues of cost of living, jobs, and housing are top of mind.

“If you want to deep dive into policies, it’s a really good idea to check out the party websites. Not all of them have put out their full platforms yet; that will happen in the next few weeks,” she says.

“But take a look at the high-level things they’re saying. What are they promising? What do they see as the problem? What are their solutions, and how do those align with your values.”

To learn more about your riding, candidates, and how to vote, visit elections.ca.