When it comes time for an election, statistics show that young people are less likely to go to the ballot box. But if you ask experts and young people why that is, there are conflicting opinions.

In the 2008 federal general election, an estimated 39.2 per cent of 18 to 24-year-olds in B.C. voted, according to Elections Canada. And with federal election campaigns underway, the level of actively political youth is again in question.

Statistics reveal that as you age, the chances that you will mark a ballot increases. Compared to the youth vote percentage of 39.2 in 2008, 49.8 per cent of 25 to 34-year-olds voted in the federal general election. The 35 to 44 age group rose to 52.6 per cent. The numbers continued to climb as 57.4 per cent of 45 to 54-year-olds voted, 62.2 per cent of 55 to 64-year-olds voted and the highest percentage of voters was in the 65 to 74-year age range at 66 per cent. B.C. residents 75 and older sat at a 63 per cent voting rate.

One reason why young people tend to stray from politics may be due to the fact that kids are not learning too much about Canada's political system in school, according to Douglas College political science department chair Darin Nesbitt.

"Why would you participate in a game that you don't understand?" he said. The youth of today generates lower voter turnout, and many are not given the tools to learn about their country's politics until they hit post-secondary school.

But SFU tenured associate professor and NDP candidate for Burnaby-Douglas Kennedy Stewart said that students seem to be very knowledgeable when it comes to elections and politics in general.

He thinks that young people simply feel unwelcome.

Nesbitt said there is no reason that political science should not be taught starting in primary school, especially since there has been talk of dropping the voting age to 16.

Nesbitt also said high levels of cynicism are partially to blame for the lack of interest or knowledge about politics. He said that sometimes people feel they do not have much confidence or ability to make a difference.

People from age 18 to 24 generally haven't established themselves in careers, in the community or within a family of their own, so they tend to have a higher disregard for voting.

Once a person gains these roles, the interest develops more, according to Nesbitt.

SFU's political science student union stated that with exams, papers and presentations needing to be done, little time is left to focus on the election.

Sam Reynolds is part of the union. "As a collective, students are naïve and ignorant," he said by e-mail. "Students want everything and contribute nothing."

President of the union, Paige MacKenzie said there is a mindset amongst Canadians that everyone is sick of elections and having four elections in seven years is too much.

She said these negative opinions further discourage young voters to get involved.

"Students are really going to have to look past that and see how the issues affect them both directly and indirectly and make that a priority," MacKenzie said.

But Simon Fraser Student Society external relations officer Kyle Acierno said the upcoming election is a popular topic amongst students. He said under funding at universities has prompted students to get involved. They would like to see something done about the high cost of an education.

"A lot of students are facing tuition fees," he said. "Students in British Columbia are graduating with $27,000 in debt."

Acierno said SFU will be handing out information and promoting a vote campaign to encourage students to head to the polls.

But SFU student leader and immediate past president of the SFU Young Liberals Benjamin Lee said that young people can participate in alternatives to politics to be heard.

He said volunteering in the community is another way for students to be engaged. And getting involved with the community could lead to a stronger interest in politics.

"If you vote once at a young age, then you're more likely to vote again," he said.

Stewart understands why young people might shy away from the political world.

"Often campaigns are unfriendly places and elections are all negative and it just turns people off. Why would you go somewhere where people don't want you?" said Stewart.

"The whole reason I get involved in elections is to try to get people engaged, and my number one focus is young

people."

Acierno is concerned that the federal election is set to take place on May 2, because the semester is over by then and many students will return home or have to prepare for exams.

Stewart said students should vote in the advance polls.

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