Green Party condemns youth voter intimidation in Guelph

GUELPH – On Wednesday, April 14, individuals disrupted a special ballot polling station on the University of Guelph campus. The Green Party is condemning the incident as an attempt at voter intimidation targeting student voters. The Green Party is further calling on Stephen Harper and the Conservative Party to withdraw its challenge against the special ballot and urging Elections Canada to continue special ballot polls for students.

Eyewitnesses report two individuals entered a polling station established to receive special ballots from students wishing to vote on the University of Guelph campus. The individuals caused a disruption, and one may have attempted to seize and remove the ballot box.

“If there were concerns with the procedure, there are channels to follow. Causing a scene like this can only be regarded as an attempt to disrupt the voting process and intimidate student voters. That is completely unacceptable,” said Elizabeth May, Leader of the Green Party.

Reports indicate the Conservative Party has now filed a challenge against the Guelph special ballot. Elections Canada has issued a statement indicating it has ordered the Returning Officer to cease these special ballot activities, but that all votes already cast are valid. The Green Party is calling on the Conservatives and leader Stephen Harper to withdraw the challenge immediately, and urging Elections Canada to reconsider allowing special ballots on campuses.

“Voter turnout levels are at record lows in Canada, and turnout is worst among young voters, who are engaged in political issues but sense that their vote does not make a difference under our current, winner-take-all voting system,” said Wayne Smith, Executive Director of Fair Vote Canada. “The special ballot program was a very welcome initiative to encourage young voters, and solved a special problem for students who are living away from home. It is very regrettable if this program has come to an end because of this unfortunate and rather bizarre incident. A proportional voting system would create a more consensual type of government and a more civilized style of politics. If we want politics to be different, we need a voting system that makes a difference.”

“This is the third election where this special ballot has been conducted at the University of Guelph. There has been no complaint about this initiative in the past. This is in fact a model we should be copying across the country to engage young voters,” said May.  “Given that elections Canada has ruled the ballots to be valid, to continue this challenge now would be nothing more than a cynical attempt to suppress the youth vote and discourage young Canadians from getting involved in the democratic life of their country. We demand Stephen Harper withdraw his party’s challenge immediately.

“Right now, young Canadians are asserting their agency in an unprecedented social movement. Vote mobs are just the start. We’re going to be voting like never before, and we are not going to be stopped by anyone’s vote suppression tactics,” said Scott Baker, National Coordinator for the Young Greens of Canada. “When young Canadians cast their votes, they will be selecting a government that prioritizes health and quality of life in our communities, respects our ecology, values representative democracy, and considers the long term ramifications of our economic policy.”

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Contacts:

Kieran Green
Director of Communications
Green Party of Canada
613-614-4916
Kieran.green@greenparty.ca