So we all know that in order to vote in TuesdaySA国际影视传媒檚 territorial election, you must be a resident of the NWT and prove that you can vote here. A full list of identification options can be found at the Elections NWT website.

You also need to be 18 years of age on or before Nov. 14. If youSA国际影视传媒檙e under that threshold, you canSA国际影视传媒檛 vote, but Elections NWT has been giving youth around the territory a chance to take part in the process.

Kids Vote 2023 was announced back in October and is designed to introduce youth to the democratic process of casting a ballot in an election.

Stephen Dunbar, the territorySA国际影视传媒檚 chief electoral officer, said this is a new program for this election cycle modeled off a similar program being run by Elections Canada called Choosing Our Mascot.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 all about getting youth engaged and showing them what democracy looks like,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淭he objective is to get kids excited about voting.SA国际影视传媒�

ItSA国际影视传媒檚 aimed toward youth between the ages of five through 12 and gives young voters four candidates to choose from, all with a Northern identity and designed by well-known NWT artist Janet Pacey: Frankie Fox, Charlene Caribou, Bobbie Bear and Pat Ptarmigan. Each candidate has their own platform, just like a candidate on the campaign trail, and itSA国际影视传媒檚 up to the students to vote for which campaign speech they like the most.

Just like the real election, the results from the mock election will be counted and released on election night.

A total of 11 schools in nine communities are taking part, said Dunbar.

SA国际影视传媒淲e reached out to schools back in May and some got back to us right away, while others said to call back,SA国际影视传媒� said Dunbar. SA国际影视传媒淭he evacuation caused a bit of a wrinkle for some communities, but weSA国际影视传媒檙e happy with the response we received.SA国际影视传媒�

The Yellowknife schools involved include Range Lake North, Mildred Hall, Ecole Itlo and William McDonald. KSA国际影视传媒檃lemi Dene School in Ndilo is also taking part.

Dunbar also said the program was designed to be easy to administer and is scalable to each school.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 a two-page document and we left it up to teachers as to how they wanted to do it,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淭hey could do a month-long campaign and students could promote it in the school, or maybe they just do something on election day. I have heard from some that itSA国际影视传媒檚 being held school-wide and thatSA国际影视传媒檚 great to hear.SA国际影视传媒�

Voter apathy among young adults has long been an issue when it comes to elections; according to Elections Canada, less than 50 per cent of those between the ages of 18 to 24 cast a ballot in the 2021 federal election.

Dunbar said seeing so many young people not voting is a worry for him.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檝e seen studies that show young people losing faith in our democratic system,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淢y daughter asks me a lot about voting and ISA国际影视传媒檝e explained to her what itSA国际影视传媒檚 all about and why itSA国际影视传媒檚 important. ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 why weSA国际影视传媒檝e introduced this concept earlier than Grade 9 and 10 SA国际影视传媒� instead of choosing a government, youSA国际影视传媒檙e choosing an animal, but the idea is the same.SA国际影视传媒�

A total of 21 other countries have laws mandating voting, such as Australia. Down under, anyone who doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 vote is issued with a fine ranging from $20 for a first offence to a maximum of $180.

Dunbar said mandating voting isnSA国际影视传媒檛 something that has ever been talked about.

SA国际影视传媒淚t isnSA国际影视传媒檛 even a discussion here,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淎ustralia has a different constitution than we do, so the laws are different.SA国际影视传媒�