[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/studentvotes.jpg” caption=”Erin Gregory, left, and Jessica Martin, are spearheading a campaign that encourages students to vote in next week’s federal election. Photo credit: Eileen Liu”]During this week's National Day of Action on Youth Voting, Jessica Martin, fourth-year multimedia and mass communications student, stood ready in the student centre to get the message out.

As students across Canada encouraged their peers to vote in the upcoming federal election, Martin set up an information booth to promote greater participation from the McMaster community.

“A lot of people don't vote because they don't know how,” says Martin. “They think that they have to vote in their home riding, but they can get registered to vote here.”

Fourth-year English and history student, Erin Gregory, believes students need to be more informed. “We're all intelligent people, but most youth don't read the paper and they don't know what the parties stand for. We must make educated votes.”

Getyourvoteon.ca is a non-partisan website geared towards educating youth about the election. With neutral information about political parties, candidates and their position on youth-related issues, the website encourages youth to be informed about their decision and to vote with intention. The website also has vital information about how to vote and where to register.

Martin and Gregory are also part of Equal Voice, an organization aimed at promoting women in politics at all levels of government. They believe women should be more involved in politics, learn about the issues, vote and especially, run in elections.

“Women make up 52 percent of the population,” says Gregory. “But only represent 21 percent of parliament. We need to have more equal representation because men can't speak for women.”

Women are generally more sensitive to issues such as childcare and education, which are important for the betterment of society in the long term, says Gregory. She believes there needs to be a more maternal attitude towards governing.

Students, especially female youth, should be more interested in politics, says Martin, adding the youth vote can have a huge influence. “As the next generation of leaders, youth have a large stake in the outcome of the election,” she says.

Students may register on the day of the election by bringing two pieces of identification and proof that they live in this riding (eg. mail or lease). Students in residence may vote at the polling station in the Mary E. Keyes Residence on Jan. 23. Other polling stations may be found on the Elections Canada website at www.elections.ca