Camosun student Kelly Hooge doesnB次元官网网址檛 have time for politics.

As finals wrap this week, her schedule is laden with hours of homework, studying and exams.

But the 19-year-old says sheB次元官网网址檚 still undecided on whether or not sheB次元官网网址檒l vote in MondayB次元官网网址檚 federal election.

B次元官网网址淗onestly, I donB次元官网网址檛 know enough about it,B次元官网网址� she admitted. B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 also a lack of interest B次元官网网址� IB次元官网网址檓 not really interested.B次元官网网址�

Voter apathy. Statistics show itB次元官网网址檚 a growing concern among young voters come election time. During the 2008 federal election, only 37 per cent of eligible voters aged 18 to 24 went to the polls.

B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 abysmal,B次元官网网址� said James Coccola, chair of the University of Victoria StudentsB次元官网网址� Society. The university, like many across the country, is doing what it can to engage students prior to the election.

B次元官网网址淩ight now, what weB次元官网网址檙e not seeing is a lot of attention (from candidates) put to issues that students care about,B次元官网网址� Coccola said. B次元官网网址淏y encouraging students to vote, and showing theyB次元官网网址檙e interested, parties will have to respond and start talking about issues students care about.B次元官网网址�

The UVSS chair starred in a YouTube video alongside UVic president David Turpin, urging students to exercise their democratic right. UVic students also created a B次元官网网址渧ote mobB次元官网网址� video to show politicians they want their voices heard.

B次元官网网址淲e want the politicians to notice that youth are going to vote, but we also want to make sure that youth are going to be out there in large numbers voting,B次元官网网址� Coccola said.

Ilona Dougherty, executive director of the national nonpartisan group Apathy is Boring, says issues that are of interest to young voters arenB次元官网网址檛 properly represented in politics. B次元官网网址淭he primary reason (young people arenB次元官网网址檛 voting) is because they donB次元官网网址檛 feel like they have the information needed to make an informed vote,B次元官网网址� Dougherty said. B次元官网网址淵oung people feel disconnected from the process.B次元官网网址�

Engaging the unengaged is the goal of Apathy is Boring.

They focus on youth because that demographicB次元官网网址檚 turnout numbers are disproportionately low, and because their disinterest will impact their future.

B次元官网网址淭he reality is if you donB次元官网网址檛 vote the first two times youB次元官网网址檙e eligible, the likelihood is you wonB次元官网网址檛 (vote) the rest of your life. WeB次元官网网址檙e really trying to turn that trend around,B次元官网网址� Dougherty said.

She recommends eligible voters B次元官网网址� uninformed, disinterested, even those planning to vote B次元官网网址� check out her organizationB次元官网网址檚 resources, which include non-partisan profiles outlining each partyB次元官网网址檚 stand on a particular issue.

B次元官网网址淵oung people, currently, are really not having their voices heard in the process,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淭he information needs to be accessible, it needs to be clear, it needs to be all in one place, so thatB次元官网网址檚 what Apathy is Boring tries to do.B次元官网网址�

There are other similar outfits, like LeadNow.ca, co-founded by former UVic student Jamie Biggar, which is an advocacy website working for a more engaged democratic process.

B次元官网网址淲e know (apathy is) not an attitude problem, itB次元官网网址檚 an action problem,B次元官网网址� Dougherty said.

B次元官网网址淧eople really do believe in democracy. We just need those who, for whatever reason, arenB次元官网网址檛 currently engaged to be motivated to participate and vote. ThatB次元官网网址檚 the challenge, but itB次元官网网址檚 an important part of democracy.B次元官网网址�

kslavin@saanichnews.com

CANDIDATES WEIGH IN:

What do candidates have to say about voter apathy?

Christopher Causton (Liberal, Victoria) B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e used as much social media and engagement any way we can to stimulate interest in this election. I try to be everywhere, as well, so people can talk to me. IB次元官网网址檝e been at schools, engaging young people about democracy and the fact weB次元官网网址檙e given this choice and about how important is it to vote. IB次元官网网址檇 say, on average, I talk to 400 people a day about voting and why itB次元官网网址檚 important to vote.B次元官网网址�

Troy De Souza (Conservative, Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca) B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址淚n order to engage apathetic voters you need to give them a reason to vote for something. My whole campaign has been to focus on the local issues that matter to people in the local community. Issues are the best way to get people out to vote, and, in particular, apathetic voters.B次元官网网址�

Randall Garrison (NDP, Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca) B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e done ads aimed at people who havenB次元官网网址檛 voted before with the tagline: B次元官网网址楧ecision are made by those who show up.B次元官网网址� WeB次元官网网址檙e trying to be places where we havenB次元官网网址檛 been before and address this, especially with young voters. I also have a lot of young people involved in my campaign B次元官网网址� my sign captain is a Grade 11 Belmont student. That participation attracts other young people.B次元官网网址�

Elizabeth May (Green, Saanich-Gulf Islands) B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 not finding very many apathetic voters. People are excited. In Saanich-Gulf Islands, the level of engagement in this election is so high. The fact that this is an exciting race helps garner interest. When thereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of excitement around a riding, a lot more people get excited about voting.B次元官网网址�