With municipal elections approaching, local leaders are urging Queen’s students to consider how decisions can affect their daily lives.
In an interview with The Journal, Racheal Reddy, AMS commissioner of external affairs, described Portsmouth, Williamsville, and Sydenham as “university districts,” as they contain large student populations and emphasized the importance of students influencing who represents these districts.
“Participating in municipal elections allows for [students’] future and their experience to be shaped in a way that would benefit them best,” Reddy said.
The AMS is planning several opportunities for students to engage with candidates before election day.
From Sept. 8 to 11, the Commission of External Affairs will host voter registration booths in the ARC during the afternoons. Students can ask questions and receive information about candidates and the election process.
A candidate forum is scheduled for Oct. 4 in the JDUC for candidates running for Portsmouth, Sydenham, and Williamsville. A debate focused on student issues will precede the forum.
Reddy said the AMS is also planning a student political debate scheduled for Oct. 7, where students involved in political clubs can discuss student issues alongside municipal candidates.
Voting in Kingston’s municipal election will take place on Oct. 26.
Niki Boytchuk-Hale, the Queen’s rector, said in an interview with The Journal that she has promoted federal and provincial elections over the past three years. In collaboration with the AMS, and she has heard from Elections Ontario that student voting has increased.
However, Boytchuk-Hale said university students have historically not made up a large portion of voter turnouts.
According to 2022 Global News reporting, only 30.56 per cent of Kingston’s eligible voters participated in the municipal election.
“Having a strong voter turnout is an important signal to our leaders that students care about their experiences, not only at the university they’re attending, but also the city that they’re living in,” Boytchuk-Hale said.
She said students should remain invested in Kingston even if they are only living in the city temporarily for school.
“If not for yourself, for other students to come,” she said. “It’s a way for us all to look out for each other.”
Boytchuk-Hale also plans to make information about municipal responsibilities and candidates available on her website. The website includes a letter from the rector, along with resources on voter registration, bylaws, transit, emergency services, public health, and other municipal services. There is also a “Meet the Candidates” tab coming soon, where students can learn about those running in the election.
Reddy said municipal decisions have a direct impact on students, pointing to housing as an example. She said students experience its effects daily, particularly through the quality and availability of rental housing.
“That all falls back onto ensuring that those who are elected care about the students,” Reddy said.
In a statement to The Journal, Queen’s said it will partner with student leaders to promote information about participating in the election and encourage students to engage both in their “home community and in Kingston as a non-resident voter.”
The University also pointed to the City of Kingston’s webpage as a helpful resource for students, providing information on voter eligibility, advance voting, and voting day locations.
The Journal will publish candidate profiles for those running for mayor and for council in four of Kingston’s 12 electoral districts. The districts include Sydenham, which encompasses Queen’s main campus, as well as the neighbouring districts of Portsmouth, Williamsville, and King’s Town.
Tags
Candidate, Kingston elections, Municipal elections, student voting
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