Cutting class to help campaign: The hyper-engaged youth in #elxn42
Would you take a term off school to help someone else get elected?
While youth can have a reputation for being politically disengaged, there's a group of young people in Newfoundland and Labrador who are anything but.
"I've probably put more hours into the whole campaign than I've ever put into anything else honestly," said Charlie Byrne, a 21-year-old Liberal supporter.
Byrne spends at least three hours a day volunteering for the party, and nine to 10 hours a day on weekends.
"I usually leave work and go straight to the campaign office," said Byrne.
"I might go home. I try to keep a change of clothes in my car, so I'll put on my running shoes and a sweater, change out of my work clothes so I'm ready to go."
Byrne's foot was even accidentally run over by another volunteer on Saturday, but he still stayed out knocking on doors.
Fellow young Liberal Ryan Steeves took the entire term off of university so that he could focus on the campaign.
"I took a term off because I didn't want to fail my classes. I knew that the election would be my priority," said Steeves.
"I want to be part of these two elections. I want to make sure that I'm part of the change that will happen [...] I just like to be part of something big."
Byrne and Steeves are two of several young people in the province who give countless hours and immeasurable energy to their party, expecting no reward except for the hope of a win.
"I'm not looking for a job or anything," said Byrne.
"I just believe that if they win that they can do some good for the country and the country can ultimately become a better place. If I can be a part of that then, at the end of the day, that's good by me."
Matthew Bendzsa is a young volunteer with the Conservative party. He and three other youth drove from St. John's to Gander this weekend to work on Kevin O'Brien's campaign.
"I just think that the Conservatives have the best way forward for the country, so I definitely want to get them elected," said Bendzsa.
"I want to reform a majority government and that's enough motivation for me. I think students are starting to wake up which is really good to see."
Liberal candidate Seamus O'Regan said that young people are some of the hardest working volunteers, and that parties rely on their energy and optimism.
"I go into the office everyday and say, 'Oh my god, they're back!'" said O'Regan.
"They don't need to be here. They're there of choice."
In 2011, youth had the lowest voter turnout rate of any demographic in the country, at 38.8 per cent.
Young NDP supporter Aiden Sparkes said he thinks that's starting to change.
"I think we're having a bit of a turnaround, I'm hearing a lot of good things on campus," he said.
"I think young people are starting to wake up."
