News Details

CONTACT:

Lauren McNiven, Vice President University Affairs

Wilfrid Students’ Union Laurier University 

Phone: 519.884.0710 x3434

lmcniven@wlu.ca

University Affairs to host provincial election and referendum venues

            WATERLOO, Ont., September 25, 2007—The University Affairs department of Wilfrid Laurier’s Students Union will provide two on-campus locations where students can cast their vote in Ontario’s provincial election and referendum October 10, 2007. One polling station will be in the 24-hour Lounge located on the third floor of the FNCC, and will be for all first year students living in residence. The second polling station will be in the basement of Bricker Residence and will be for all upper year students as well as all off-campus students. In order to vote, students attending the polling station in the 24-hour Lounge must bring their Laurier OneCard; students attending the polling station in the basement of Bricker Residence must bring their OneCard as well as a document which proves they reside in the City of Waterloo (for example a bill with their Waterloo address on it). Prior to Election Day the University Affairs department will hold an all candidates debate in the Turret: October 3, 2007 from 12:00-2:00pm.

            This year marks Ontario’s first-ever referendum on electoral form. In past years voters have been given one ballot to cast their vote for an electoral candidate. This year voters will receive the chance to also vote for which electoral system Ontario should use to elect members to the provincial legislature—the existing system or the alternative system proposed by the Citizens’ Assembly. Students can visit www.yourbigdecision.org for additional information on Ontario’s referendum on electoral form.

“Students make up 1/5 of the Kitchener-Waterloo population and should be keenly interested and active in electing a provincial candidate to represent them,” said Vice President of University Affairs Lauren McNiven. “This year is incredibly important for democratic participation since we are being asked to modernize our electoral system. By attending as many educational and informational events as students can afford, they will be made well aware of the candidate who will bring the most attention on post-secondary education and other issues important to the voter to Queen’s Park.”

            Polls will be open from 9am to 9pm. Don’t let the opportunity to be heard pass you by—cast your vote October 10^th and see how your opinion can make a difference!

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