Two different rallies for two different political parties were held at St. Thomas University in Fredericton on Wednesday.
The Green Party was on the university’s courtyard during the noon hour. A few hours later, Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau showed up in a student lounge.
Both looking for the same thing – young voters.
“I'm hoping my generation will be different than they've been historically,” said one St. Thomas student.
About three million Canadians between the ages of 18 and 24 are eligible to vote on Oct. 19. But historically, the youngest age group has some of the lowest voter turnout numbers.
Universities across the Maritimes are trying to change that trend. Polling stations have been set up across campuses where students can vote in their home ridings.
There are messages spread across campus encouraging students to exercise their democratic rights.
St. Thomas even offers the chance to win a pre-paid credit card for casting a ballot.
But some students still notice their peers aren’t voting.
“I can’t say I’ve seen an overwhelming number of people who want to go out and vote, but hopefully people do,” said one student.
“I think posting on social media is our generation’s way of expressing our opinions and beliefs,” said another student.
New Brunswick Green Party Leader David Coon says the campus vote is what helped him make history last fall as the province’s first Green MLA.
He says its politicians who need to do a better job reaching out to young people.
“I don’t see that kind of dismissal of entire groups of people as legitimate, but that's exactly politically what has happened in the past despite the rhetoric,” said Coon.
Trudeau says he hopes young people will get out and vote whether or not they vote for his party.
“Because there are great people running for office all across the country,” he said at a rally Wednesday.
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Nick Moore.
