Elections Canada pilot project lets students vote on campus

Elections Canada is hoping to encourage more students to vote in the federal election by opening dozens of on-campus polling stations this week.

It's described as a pilot project involving campuses, Friendship Centres and community centres across the country.

One of the special polling stations is at Yukon College in Whitehorse, another is at Aurora College in Fort Smith, N.W.T.

"It really has been really helpful and really critical to engaging both the student population, and more broadly, the area," said Lewis MacKay, president of the Yukon College Student Union.

MacKay says the special polling station, combined with a candidates' forum held two weeks ago at the college, has put the election on students' radars.

Carpentry apprentice David Jackson, 19, is voting for the first time this year.

"Feels pretty good to be able to vote now, cause now I can vote for the right type of government," he said.

Any eligible voter can register and vote at the campus sites, including students who are from another province or territory. Voting is by special ballot, with votes counted in the riding of the elector's home address.

Student Ewan Jones is from Vancouver Island, but he's voting at Yukon College.

"It's good having it in the hall here, so even if you're just walking by, like I was, you can see there's somewhere to vote," he said.

"It just makes it that much easier for students."