Candidate Quaiff says most 18-year-olds not on Voters’ List

Robert Quaiff

Mayoral candidate Robert Quaiff invited senior students at PECI to get on the voting list for this year’s municipal election and explained his plans to include them in an on-going youth forum.

Quaiff spoke to students at the high school last week after he discovered that most 18-year-olds in the County are not on the Voters’ List.

“This is disappointing news,” he said, in light the importance of getting more young people interested in the upcoming municipal election.

The Quaiff campaign learned from County Clerk/Returning Officer Kim White that the Voters’ List is compiled primarily from MPAC records of property owners and residents of voting age.   Because most 18-year-olds are not property owners and were not of voting age at the time of the last MPAC enumeration, most are not included on the County’s 2014 list of eligible voters.

This, said Quaiff, could be a problem for those intending to vote by Internet.

“Young voters are probably more Internet-savvy than most of their elders,” he said.  “They are consequently more likely to participate in internet voting.  They need to get on the list.”

Quaiff also told the students that as mayor, he would convene a series of Town Hall meetings for youth to provide input into the planning process for County programs. He suggested a theme of “My Future is Now” to describe urgency in the initiative.

“When the County plans its initiatives for economic development, transportation, housing, recreation and training, our County youth should be at the table,” said Quaiff.  “Youth are impacted by all of these programs, and we need to seriously consider what our young citizens have to say about them.”

“We could start with a weekday conference involving senior students during school hours.   This could be followed by Saturday and weeknight meetings for young people who have recently graduated.  I would like to meet soon with a few young people with a keen interest in pursuing such an initiative so that I can involve them in organizing these events,” he said.

Senior students of PECI, or recent graduates of PECI and Loyalist College who are interested in working with Quaiff to plan “Youth Town Hall” meetings  can reach him by email at robertquaiff@gmail.ca .

Internet voting in the County is available at any time between Oct. 18th and 27th. However, it is first necessary to be on the Voters’ List and to register for Internet Voting before the Oct. 22nd cut-off date for obtaining an Internet Voting identity and a PIN. Complete the application form obtainable from the Clerk’s Office during regular working hours or complete and print out the form at http://www.pecounty.on.ca/pdf/EL15.pdf  and bring it to Shire Hall with proof of residency.  If done prior to mid-October, first-time voters will be registered in time to participate in Internet Voting.

Anyone who is not on the Voters List by the October 18th advance poll or the October 27th election may vote by establishing their eligibility at the polling station, as well as providing the proof of identity that is required from all voters.
“But if you are not on the voters list, you will unfortunately not be able to vote by Internet,” said Quaiff.