Vancouver Island University Students’ Union wants to get out the student vote in British Columbia’s referendum on proportional representation.
The VIUSU, along with the B.C. Federation of Students, recognizes “it’s really crunch time” in the campaign and is taking measures to try to boost voter response.
B.C. is in the final weeks of a referendum on electoral reform that will determine whether citizens wish to change the voting system, and if so, to choose a new proportional representation system.
Anouk Borris, the VIU Students’ Union’s women’s representative for the Nanaimo campus, said campaigning has been going on all semester there, but there is particular focus now on the actual process of voting.
She said many post-secondary students didn’t receive ballots to their current addresses because some students move every school year, relocate for work in the summer or have fixed addresses in other communities.
“So we’re just trying to get people to update their addresses and sign up online to get their information up to date so they can receive ballots,” Borris said. “Or, because it is getting close to the final date, we’re really trying to emphasize that they can also go into the Service B.C. offices and vote in person.”
VIU Students’ Union and the B.C. Federation of Students both support proportional representation. B.C. Premier John Horgan, at a recent leaders’ debate, argued that “pro rep is lit,” suggesting that the current first-past-the-post system is behind the times. Borris agreed that first-past-the-post is “perhaps” outdated and thinks proportional rep could cause more young people to want to vote and be engaged politically.
“A system that better represents us is really important…” she said. “In other places that have adopted proportional representation, it seems like it does increase the voter turnout in general so we’re hoping that similar things can happen here.”
Asked if the three potential systems of proportional rep are too complicated or confusing, Borris said there are lots of available online resources for voters.
“We’re focusing on acknowledging what pro rep is in general, telling people the overall concepts,” she said. “We want to get people engaged and excited about it and I think that we have had a lot of positive responses from students.”
Vote PR B.C. noted in a press release yesterday that it recommends people request ballots by today, Nov. 16, if they haven’t received one.
“At this stage, our campus campaign is all about mobilizing the youth vote, and that means making sure young Pro Rep supporters have a ballot in their hands and in the mail before it’s too late,” said Simka Marshall, Vote PR B.C. field director for Pro Rep is Lit, in the release.
Those opposed to voting for proportional representation in the referendum are also feeling the time crunch as the Nov. 30 deadline nears.
“This has been rushed through, the campaign time was very compromised and compacted. The time to get your votes in is a challenge,” said Michelle Stilwell, B.C. Liberal MLA for Parksville-Qualicum.
Although citizens get to vote, it’s politicians who came up with the proportional representation choices and politicians who would get to decide on all the unknowns that would follow a ‘yes’ vote, which Stilwell said is fundamentally wrong.
“We will continue to voice our concerns all the way to the closing date for voting,” she said. “But mainly we have to help British Columbians understand that this is not a fair process and it’s unreasonable to expect British Columbians to take this leap of faith with the premier.”
Editorial: Electoral reform would retain some of what works
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Readers argue for electoral reform
LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Proportional rep won’t allow for change when it’s needed
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