A soon-to-be first-time voter is hoping to arm Canadians with a little more information come Oct. 21.
Laef Kucheran, who lives in Burnaby, will be voting in his first election in a couple of weeks, but the 18-year-old has been preparing for this day for a very long time.
Four years ago, he created , an app and website that gathers candidate lists and party platforms from across Canada all in one place.
One tool lets you compare platforms on a given issue and stances as you go. The app will tally up which party you agree with most.
B次元官网网址淚 was intrigued about democracy, about how people are informed or not informed,B次元官网网址� Kucheran told Black Press Media by phone Tuesday. B次元官网网址淲hat you know, what you donB次元官网网址檛 know and how that affects your willingness to do something.B次元官网网址�
What he found was that many people were interested in issues like housing, climate change or LGBTQ2+ rights, but not the finer details of electing people to public office.
B次元官网网址淭hey were interested in what you accomplish using democracy, but they werenB次元官网网址檛 interested in the actual running ballot,B次元官网网址� he said.
Kucheran said a lot of information is available in the media and on political partiesB次元官网网址� websites, but most people donB次元官网网址檛 have the time, or desire, to go through all of that.
He said many of his peers are interested in politics as well and wish they could vote.
B次元官网网址淚 talk with a 16-year-old whoB次元官网网址檒l say, B次元官网网址業B次元官网网址檓 really interested in the governmentB次元官网网址檚 position on climate change, or LGBTQ rightsB次元官网网址� but I still donB次元官网网址檛 know all the parties.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�
When those teens get to voting age, the interest in politics remains B次元官网网址� as does the lack of clarity.
B次元官网网址淎ll of a sudden, they have a lot of other stuff to deal with. They have to look for jobs, look at post-secondary and they also no longer have the time.B次元官网网址�
Although he had younger people in mind when he created the app, he says many of his users are in their 40s, 50s and beyond.
B次元官网网址淚n the end, itB次元官网网址檚 not something thatB次元官网网址檚 about the technology, itB次元官网网址檚 about something thatB次元官网网址檚 easily accessible.B次元官网网址�
Kucheran, who has operated the website through two previous elections, said this is the first time heB次元官网网址檚 working with riding candidates to add their information to the database.
B次元官网网址淚 think itB次元官网网址檚 90 per cent of people who vote on the party, not the candidate,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淵et, itB次元官网网址檚 the candidate in the end whoB次元官网网址檚 going to represent you as an MP in Ottawa.B次元官网网址�
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