To the Editor,
While there is much hand wringing and crocodile tears about so-called voter apathy there is actually some satisfaction in certain parties that some segments of the population don’t vote much.
New barriers such as additional voter ID to prevent the non-crime of electoral fraud is really designed to eliminate many who are poor or who have unstable housing arrangements such as students and low-paid workers. That makes it easier to concentrate on pleasing older, settled, often wealthier people who vote in greater numbers.
Polls from Nanaimo-Ladysmith indicate that 36.5 per cent of voters did not vote in the last election. Extrapolating from national figures, 60 per cent of those non-voters were likely between 18 and 30 years old. If you wonder why your tuition fees keep rising, that your wages remain low, that good job opportunities are scarce, that you no longer qualify for employment insurance, that the environment is expendable, ask yourself whether you voted or not in the last election and you may have a part answer. Do something revolutionary for yourself and your friends this time around; vote.
Liz FoxLantzville