1. Slide Deck 3: Democratic Participation

2. Voter turnout is the percentage of eligible electors, or registered voters, that cast ballots in an election.

3. Discussion
What do you think voter turnout was in the last federal election?
Do you think voter turnout stays the same over time?
Do you think voter turnout varies across age groups? Why or why not?

4. Trends in voter turnout FEDERAL ELECTIONS - VOTER TURNOUT (%)
Questions:
What trends do you notice from 1970 to 2015? How has voter turnout changed over time?
What factors do you think lead to an increase in turnout? (e.g., “change” election, competitive election, charismatic leaders)
What do you think voter turnout will be this election and why?

5. FEDERAL ELECTIONS - VOTER TURNOUT (%)
2015: A positive change
FEDERAL ELECTIONS - VOTER TURNOUT (%)
- Youth voter participation had the largest increase on record. Electoral participation among year olds increased by 18 percentage points to 57 per cent (up from 39 per cent in 2011).
- Despite this positive shift in the last election, young people still tend to vote less than other age groups
- Even with the increase in 2015, youth voter turnout was at 57.1% Compare that to 78.8% of people in the age group

6. Discussion What do you notice about the different age groups?
What do you think the reasons are behind the differences?
Why does youth voting matter?

7. First time voting matters FIRST-TIME VOTER TURNOUT TRENDS
First-time voters in 1965
FIRST-TIME VOTER TURNOUT TRENDS
First-time voters in 1984
First-time voters in 1997

8. Discussion
Will you vote when you are eligible? How do programs like Student Vote help future voters?

9. Discussion
What attitudes do you have about participating in politics and elections? Who or what has shaped your attitudes?

10. Barriers to voting

11. Motivational barriers

12. Access barriers

13. Consolidation
Do you agree or disagree with the following proposals to increase voter turnout?
Voting should be a legal requirement and those that do not vote should be fined
Election day should be a holiday so that people have sufficient time to vote
Online voting would make it easier to cast a vote
The voting age should be lowered to 16 years of age

14. Consolidation
Do you agree or disagree with the following proposals to increase voter turnout?
A proportional voting system would make voters feel that their vote mattered
Civics and citizenship education should be expanded in curriculum
School council elections should be reformed to give the council more decision-making power
Include youth in more government consultations