This is from a collection of promotional images made by students. Click to see others and for details about the artists.

TORONTO, ON – CNW – This week, Ontario’s elementary and high school students will be talking politics and casting ballots for the official candidates running in the provincial election.  More than 1,600 schools have registered to participate in Student Vote 2014, representing all 107 electoral districts.

Student Vote is a parallel election for students under the voting age that coincides with official election periods.  Students learn about the democratic process, party platforms and local candidates through classroom learning, campaign events and take-home activities. The program culminates with an authentic in-school vote whereby students take on the roles of election officials and cast ballots for the official candidates running in their electoral district.

The purpose is to provide young people with an opportunity to experience the democratic process firsthand and practice the habits of informed and engaged citizenship.

Asa, a Grade 8 student from St. Michael Catholic School in Fitzroy Harbour believes, “It is our right, privilege and duty as Canadian citizens to be opinionated about who will guide our future.  It is important that we learn how to cut through the propaganda behind campaigning and figure out who will be the best representative of the public.”

“It is essential to start teaching students about government and the voting process at a young age. Voter turnout is currently at an all-time low. But something tells me that will not be the case in a couple of years, thanks to increased student interest in elections and the Student Vote program,” says Angelo, a Grade 12 student at TD Christian High School in Vaughan.

From Windsor to Thunder Bay, and Cornwall to Toronto, hundreds of thousands of Ontario students will be voting in their schools between June 4 and 11.

MORE INFO

• Student Vote is the flagship program of CIVIX.  CIVIX is a national registered charity building the capacity and commitment of young Canadians to participate in their democracy.
• Elections Ontario has engaged CIVIX to deliver the Student Vote program in conjunction with the 41^st general election this June.