'This is hugely important': Getting 16- and 17-year-olds to vote in plebiscite

Elections PEI ismaking presentations atall Islandhigh schools encouraging 16- and 17-year-olds to vote in the upcoming plebiscite.

"We're encouraging the 16- and 17-year-olds to get registered in this last homestretch and to take advantage of this awesome privilege that they've been handed,"says Elections PEI director of communications,Paul Alan.

He describes this opportunity as a "history changing event" allowing younger than regular voting age individuals to weigh in on the plebiscite, and he wants the kids to seize this opportunity.

Less than half registered

Currently, less than half of the young adults eligible have registered, with only 2,000 of 4,500 ready to vote.

None of the ten Grade 12students attending one of the information sessions at Colonel Gray Wednesday had registered, but two of those who spoke with CBC News said they intend to vote.

Claire Moran Chilton said today's presentation was very helpful.

"I kind of went in not knowing much about the plebiscite. I kind of knew that it was a thing that was happening, and I could participate in it, but I didn't know all the particulars of it, and I definitely didn't know about all the different systems of voting that were available."

Havingthe five options explainedhelped get hercloser to a decision how she'll vote.

Plebiscite is 'hugely important'

"I think this is hugely important, because the decision of who makes our decisions affects every decision, right,"said Thomas Wagner.

"So getting people informed and engaged, and having people have a system that they truly feel is the best is very important."

Wagner said he's leaning toward choosingpreferential voting but he said it was good to learn about the other options.

Most of the people he knows who are eligible are planning to vote.

"I think a lot of us are really excited that we can vote," said Wagner, adding he's a big fan of this decision.

"It sends the message to young people that people are actually listening to them."

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