No disrespect to your grandmothers and grandfathers (they do their civic duty every few years), but this election, the narrative isn’t about them. It’s 2011 and the election that started with the typical back and forth political spin between major parties and Elizabeth May shouting from the sidelines has taken a new direction. Suddenly, it’s energetic, engaged, and including a whole demographic of voters of whom in recent elections have usually been withdrawn from the political process. While the Tories claimed this was an election that no one wanted, it’s being turned on its head by the growing movement of “Vote Mobs” across the country. At 35 universities and counting, hundreds of youth are taking to their campuses and producing videos to share with the rest of their country. The message is simple: Youth are voting.
Days into the campaign, youth-related stories began to take hold in the media. From the student who was refused entry into a Harper rally because of her Facebook profile, the surprise welcome by University of Guelph students at Harper and Ignatieff campaign events, and the numerous Vote Mobs being planned through social media, students have started to take over the direction of the campaign. Groups like LeadNow, a new organization run by Canadians of all ages, have facilitated these vote mobs, many of which were inspired by Rick Mercer’s Rant. Mercer stated: “If you’re between the ages of 18 and 24, and you want to scare the hell out of the people who run the country, do the unexpected, take 20 minutes out of your day and do what young people the world over are dying to do, Vote!”
It now looks as if young Canadians are going to show up this time. This election seems to be everywhere, and especially dominating social media – which accounts for growing youth participation. After all, if you want to get young people involved you have to go where they are.
Knowing that youth are far more likely to vote Liberal, NDP, or Green, Canadian youth might effectively be accomplishing what Mercer suggested. “Scare (ing) the hell out of the people who run this country.” Federal Conservative candidate John Baird’s recent comment about “flash” and “mobs” being “disconcerting” may therefore be appropriate. No one really knows what the vote mob movement will result in this election. Consider this: most youth aren’t registered to vote, don’t have a landline to be tracked by elections Canada, and haven’t given their cell phone number to a political party in order to be targeted through that medium. People can guess whatever they would like about how effective the youth vote will be in changing this election, but the reality is that no one can really know until all ballots are cast. Considering so little attention has been paid to the demographic in the past, parties may now have to scramble to try and sway what could potentially be large numbers of available votes that they haven’t garnered before.
Such ambiguity has to leave politicians apprehensive about how to now grasp the “youth vote”. This, however, is easier said than done because not only is it unclear how many of the 3 million youth in Canada will cast a ballot this election, but also because this demographic doesn’t have just one priority they are allocating their vote towards. The youth vote won’t be captured by tossing out a bone like reduced tuition. Although such policy is relevant and important to youth, it isn’t good enough. Youth care about a variety of issues. A glance at the Vote Mob videos from across the country show that issues of environmental protection, women’s rights, aboriginal rights, income inequality, climate change, Canada’s international reputation, and education are all issues that youth want addressed. That being said, in an election that has focussed on few of those issues, the parties have much catching up to do to capture the support of a newly engaged, informed, and diverse generation. As a first time voter, my advice to each party would be to watch this movement carefully. If youth actually show up this time, this election could leave everyone surprised – without anyone having seen it coming.
Alexandria Mitchell is the co-organizer of the UBC VOTE MOB April 20th, at UBC. 12-2pm. Visit: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=117463898334533 for more information; Contact: ubcvotemob AT gmail.com
Susan, what came to my mind from Alexandria’s title was the old car ads – “This is not your father’s Oldsmobile…” I interpret it as a figure of speech, not meant literally. The fact is seniors consistently turn out to the polls at somewhere around double the rate of youth, and we can be fairly certain they will continue to do so, whereas the youth vote remains an open question. Anyway, I don’t think Alexandria meant in any way to offend with her title. And thank you for your all you do for your community and the environment – we young folks have much to learn from your example 🙂
Alexandria owes an apology to no-one. The title is meant to motivate her generation by informing them they do have a voice.
BUT if one can manage to find offensiveness in a youth seeking motivation from her group of peers perhaps its best to not read these pages.
Rather than seeking an apology can we not offer them encouragement while at the same time finding a shovel to bury our own ego? It is after all their world, not ours…….
In reference to the article that claims this isn’t your grandmother’s election, I am thrilled that young people are getting involved. It sure has taken long enough for them to wake up. I don’t know why they have been so disconnected for so long when the decisions of the last few decades are effecting their futures. I hope the involvement will continue past the election and that this youthful surge is not just a short-lived fad. Alexandria Mitchell is demonstrating great leadership. However, she owes an apology to me and other grandmothers who have been actively involved since we were her age a very long time ago. Rest assured we have not just been doing our civic duty every few years. For decades we have tried to convince people, young and old, that democracy requires eternal vigilance. The older generation is owed more respect than being told this election is not about us. It about all of us.
No matter which way these young people choose to vote, the fact that they are getting engaged can be seen as nothing but a victory for democracy.
I don’t think that they are any less knowledgeable about the country in which they live than a good number of people that have been voting for years and years.
One thing I am quite sure of is that if these youngsters carry through with their determination to cast a vote on this election, the pollsters prognostications will prove to be as useful as taking a parka to Phoenix Arizona in August. This could prove to be one of the most exciting elections in recent memory.
I was shocked by the Conservatives, storming the Guelph University. They even tried to grab the ballot boxes. Needless to say, the web site: shitharperdid, shows, our youth have had enough too. I did laugh at their title, but hey, whatever works is great.
Harper is the “great dictator” of Canada. He and Campbell are working to, drill oil and gas wells, off BC’s coast. The fact, there was a 6.1 earthquake off the Queen Charlotte’s, doesn’t register with them or, I really think they don’t care. Harper also left the back door open, for the expansion of Prosperity mine, it can be reapplied for. We also know, Campbell signed in favor, of the dirty oil tankers from China, and the Enbridge pipeline. I have no doubt, Harper will approve, he works very closely with China.
Have you seen the photos of the eco damage, the run of the rivers is causing. We have governments, we really need to be rid of. Federally and provincially alike. Many of our young people, are conscious of our environment. Let us hope they turn the tide of the eco destruction.
“Canada will love you …”
BCMary … let’s hope you are right.
There’s no doubt social media are scaring the crap out of those who’s dominance is a function of centralized power and control. This is particularly evident in comments from those within existing power structures and corporate media. But it should also scare those who believe this will translate into an increase in INFORMED voter turnout.
Just as there’s no way of knowing how effective the youth vote will be in changing the outcome of this election, there’s no way of knowing how well informed they are about “environmental protection, women’s rights, aboriginal rights, income inequality, climate change” issues: ideology and the real world are often in conflict.
If Alexandria Mitchell is counting on the “parties” to catch up and capture the support of this new voting demographic we may be no further ahead in terms of dealing with truly serious issues.
If social media becomes a force to reckon with (a fact highlighted by Wikipedia leaks and the numerous social-media-driven uprisings around the globe) and youth overcome their political naiveté, Canada will not be alone in their love for “vote mobs”.
This from a real Grandmother….and yes, my grandson WILL be voting. Cheers to you all.
Bravo, Vote-Mobs!
You are the best news this wounded province of British Columbia has had in a long, long time.
Canada will love you … thanks from us all.