The Camosun College Student Society (CCSS) student council elections are taking place on October 28 and 29.
As has been the case in years past, getting students aware and voting is a challenge. CCSS executive director Michel Turcotte says it is up to the candidates to engage students.
“I think it’s kind of unfair thinking it’s the student society’s responsibility to increase voter turnout, I would argue,” says Turcotte. “Those running in the elections, it’s their primary responsibility. My primary responsibility is to ensure that there is a fair and accountable process that is taking place.”
The lack of voting and participation from young voters hasn’t just been an issue at Camosun. Declining voter turnout from young people is a problem for all elections, says Turcotte.
“If you look at the voting rates for youth or even in general for federal, provincial, municipal, and student society elections, it’s a complete downward curve,” he says. “At every level, youth, and voters in general, are voting to a lower degree, and they’re just completely detached from the process.”
The CCSS relies on student input and votes to shape their decisions, but students just don’t always have student politics at the top of their priority list.
“No, I wouldn’t vote,” says first-year Mental Health and Addictions student Amanda Aikan. “Mostly because I haven’t had the time to find out who’s running and what they care about, so it’s more of a time issue. I’m more focused on the provincial and federal elections than the campus election.”
Turcotte says he feels the lack of voter turnout at the CCSS elections is indicative of young people not participating in political processes in general, a trend he hopes to see end soon.
“I think it’s time for students to actually pay more attention to politics,” he says, “because it’s the only way their voices are going to get heard. And right now, politicians don’t listen to students because they know they are not a political force to be reckoned with.”
CCSS external executive Andrea Eggenberger says that elections are a good time to get some new faces involved in student politics.
“This year we have several constituency director positions and one executive position vacant; it’s really exciting to get a new person in there. So, definitely, those are great opportunitiesŃthey are paid jobs. The executive position is 20 hours a week and the constituency directors are 15 hours. If a student is looking for a paid position for the next eight months, it’s a great way to get involved and have a part-time job at the same time.”
Eggenberger feels that the CCSS struggles with voter turnout because of the nature of Camosun’s programs. She says people often think that because they won’t even be here next year, they shouldn’t bother voting, as they won’t see any changes take place.
“We especially find that in our spring elections, people say they’re not going to be there so it’s not going to affect them personally, and maybe they shouldn’t vote,” she says. “And we’re like, ‘No, leave a legacy.’ But, generally, at the fall elections, you get positions that will directly affect them in school right now, so we do get a better turnout in the fall.”
As the October elections approach, the CCSS hopes there are plenty of students who are willing to make a change.
“We’re hoping for some really engaged members to come in with new ideas, and who are just eager to learn,” says Eggenberger. “There are some systematic things they’ll have to learn, which is always really exciting, about how our organization works. So it’s always great to see new faces, new ideas, and watch them grow, when they come.”
Looking ahead, the CCSS is trying to make voting more efficient and easier for busy students by setting up online polls for future elections. This service is not confirmed yet, but it is one way the CCSS hopes to increase voter turnout.
Aside from the student council positions, the October election will also contain a referendum question about a Camosun club seeking funding to bring refugees to Camosun for postsecondary education. The money for this club would come out of Camosun student fees.
The CCSS represents and supports Camosun students with services, programs, and activities. They have a board, a student council, and staff.