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HB NEWS YOUTHFUL HOPE SHINES AMID LOW VOTER TURNOUT YOUNG PEOPLE MAY HOLD KEY TO STRONGER VOTER ENGAGEMENT BAMBANG SADEWO bsadewo@metroland.com The success of some young people running for office — and those behind e scenes — emerged as a bright spot in Halton's mu- nicipal elections; however, le remain when it comes to voter turnout. The number of eligible voters who cast their ballot Halton Hills at 28. 09 per cent (down from 29.42 per cent in 2018), 27.22 per cent in Bur- lington (down from 39.79 per cent), Milton with 28.99 per cent (down from 37 per cent) and Oakville at 28.3 per cent science professor at McMas- ter University, said a num- ber of factors could be con- tributing to the d numbers for municipal elec- tions, including difficulty of voters to get information, less media coverage for lo- campaigns and the sence oot political party ban- ners to help simplify choic- may feel they have no capac- ity to fo change things with their vote, completely dis- empowered, or disconnect- ed from their political com- nities. Those who may help bol- voter turnout —are council- lor-elects Joseph Racinsky age came up on occasion during the election cam- , 20-year-old Racinsky felt his passion likely struck a chord with some voters. “If they wanted someone ith energy and enthusi- asm, that's why people voted for me. If age was a concern, they probably didn't," he g halal i, 22, said that he's committed to "ensuring that young people have the abil- iy to be part of institutions ions that aoe ‘one! term decision- making, sll Graham Paine/Metroland Kirsten Kelly says age shouldn't deter someone from running in an election. The former student trustee for HCDSB putallef- forts into the campaign, while being serving the community. “Being a young person would add value to council and fill in a perspective that is not too common in coun- cil. Diverse representation matters," he said. into the race, Kir- sten Kelly, 19, who won a seat on Halton Catholic Dis- trict School Board (HCDSB) for Burlington Wards 1 and 2, realized that facing off against an incumbent was "an uphill battle." Connie to vote of on ane wee Iiversity of undergraduate whee noting that the use of social media was also in- "It's (voting) not as biga priority for young people, which I do find unfortu- nate," Kelly said. This sentiment was ech- oed by Shyan Hayder, who, at just 17, 17, managed the cam. paign of Nav Nanda for “There's more community building that low tamout in vast ele. has to be done where people actually 4 ot new that Ihad to ‘oo feel that we're a community and we can make decisions together and those decisions can make a difference.” - Peter Graefe, political-science professor, Ward 7 town and regional councillor in Oakville — and helped her defeat the in- cumbent by more than 500 vote: wate Grade 12 student at Oaks Secondary Sahel has been involved in Truck Accessories © Upholstery © Heavy Equipment Glass ¢ Window Tinting McMaster University election campaigns at all levels for years. With many of his peers finding politics boring, he said, ~ a Fy 3 a v i Zz "You have to create chain] he said. "That's how — its a Fa g Gracte cautioned that ipa S es JWisAoN ‘Aepsu important institutions and © more and more powers will get exercised at the level of inci: nt." One way to encourage greater political participa- tion is to create a sense of be- longing in communities. "There's more communi- ty building that has to be done where people actually Ie ce of munici- palelections and how “it im- pacts the smallest issues in our life,” while Hayder —a political aficionado — en- courages parents to keep an open min id allow their lads to wee involved 4 in poli- STORY BEHIND THE STORY: Amid an especially low voter turnout in Hal- ton's municipal ale elections, we poten- young candidates and vol- unteers would motivate them to be more involved in politics and local issues. wanted tial bright spot and how that could help bolster young voter engagement in the future. 354 Guelph Street, Georgetown | 905-873-1655