August 08, 2017
Students have the power if they vote
The New Zealand University Students association has launched a campaign to encourage students and young people to vote in this year's election.
National president Jonathan Gee says the We Have Power initiative was inspired by young political movements overseas such as the surge in youth voting in the recent United Kingdom election, and big organising models of campaigning in the 2016 United States primaries.
He says as well as a strong digital presence, the campaign will involve a lot of face to face conversations with students.
"What we want to talk to them about is the issues they care about. Maybe it's about being fed up with living in a cold and damp flat, being worried about the mental health of a loved one, worrying about the care of an elderly parent or grandparent. Talking about these issues, connecting that with politics and saying politicians have an opportunity to change things for you and make things better, but the only way they are going to do that is if you vote," Mr Gee says.
We Have Power has asked the Electoral Commission to put early voting booths on university and polytech campuses.
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