With a federal election approaching, Elections Canada is bringing voting closer to students through its Vote on Campus Program.
Students are eligible to cast their ballots on campus at Ban Righ Hall from April 13 to 16 for the 45th general election on April 28. Electors have the option to vote remotely through their home riding by special ballot or in the Kingston and the Islands riding if they provide proof of address.
Unlike a traditional ballot, the special ballot doesn’t list candidates—voters must write the full name of their chosen candidate.
To be eligible to vote, individuals must be Canadian citizens and at least 18 years old on or before April 28, 2025. Voters must bring ID with their name and address, such as a driver’s license, to cast a ballot. Those looking to vote in the Kingston and the Islands riding using a student address must bring proof of residence, like a lease agreement or utility bill.
In the Kingston and the Islands riding, candidate Mark Gerretsen is running as the incumbent for the Liberal Party, Mayor Bryan Paterson is running as a Conservative, Daria Juüdi-Hope will represent the New Democratic Party, and Fintan Hartnett is running for the Greens.
Elections Canada introduced the Vote on Campus program in 2015 to make voting more accessible for students, however, it wasn’t offered in the 2021 federal election. That year, only 47 per cent of voters aged 18 to 24 cast a ballot, down from 57 per cent in 2019. The program’s return is part of an effort to re-engage young voters.
While the program is designed with students in mind, any eligible elector—including faculty, staff, and community members—can cast a ballot using the special ballot process at Ban Righ Hall on April 13 from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., or on April 14 to April 16 between 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Tags
Bryan Paterson, Daria Juüdi-Hope, Federal Election, Fintan Hartnett, Mark Gerretsen, polling station, student vote, Voting
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