Youth & Democracy
In Canada, what is the minimum voting age for federal elections?
What is 18 years old
Rekker’s study identifies this age group as “trendsetters” in politics.
What are young voters or under-25 voters?
Canada is considered a “full democracy” by this international organization.
What is the Economist Intelligence Unit?
The presentation’s central question asks what role this group will play in shaping Canada’s future.
What are young people?
Rekker found that youth are less loyal to these kinds of parties.
What are traditional or established parties?
This term describes when citizens lose trust in political institutions and stop participating in elections.
What is political disengagement (or democratic apathy)
According to Rekker, when a party’s vote share increases by 1%, youth support rises by this percentage.
What is 1.13%?
This foundational document protects equality and civic participation in Canada.
What is the Charter of Rights and Freedoms?
One proposed policy fix for improving youth engagement is lowering this.
What is the voting age?
This concept describes how youth support for new movements can introduce new leaders and ideas.
What is being early adopters of political change?
According to Rekker (2022), young voters often act as these — setting new political trends that older voters later follow.
What are trendsetters
Rekker’s research analyzed over 219 post-election surveys across how many Western democracies?
What is 21 Western democracies?
One key strength of Canadian democracy is the independence of these three institutions.
What are Parliament, the judiciary, and the media?
According to the presentation, the future of Canadian democracy depends on whether youth do this or stay silent.
What is engage or participate?
Two modern Canadian parties that continue to attract youth voters for climate and social justice issues are these.
What are the NDP and the Green Party?
Name one reason why younger voters are more likely to switch parties or support new political movements compared to older voters.
What is because they have weaker party loyalty / are more open to change / are influenced by new issues and media (Any of these earns points.)
This term describes how youth voter preferences can later influence older voters’ choices.
What is electoral volatility?
In 2021, youth voter turnout among 18–24-year-olds was approximately this percentage.
What is 46%?
These online platforms can both mobilize youth and spread misinformation.
What are TikTok, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter)?
Rekker’s model suggests that youth support for new parties can later cause these shifts in older voters.
What are delayed preference changes or generational spillover effects?
Rekker’s research found that young voters often shape long-term democratic change. In Canada, what could this mean for the future of political parties and representation?
What is youth-driven renewal of parties, more diverse political leadership, or new forms of participation redefining democracy? (Encourages thoughtful response.)
Name one major Canadian election that exemplified Rekker’s theory of youth-driven change.
What is the 2015 election of Justin Trudeau’s Liberal Party?
Despite high institutional trust, Canada faces these three major challenges to democracy.
What are polarization, misinformation, and representation gaps?
Name the three possible outlooks for Canada’s democratic future discussed in the presentation.
What are optimistic, pessimistic, and transformative?
This broader term refers to the constant shifts in party support caused by youth-led political trends.
What is electoral volatility?