Almost 6,000 schoolkids across Richmond took part in the nationwide Student Vote program — a parallel federal election run for students under the voting age.
And if it was, indeed, left up to the kids, who were of elementary and secondary age, the city would have been completely covered in the Liberal’s “red wave.”
Just like in the real election on Monday night, the Grits’ Joe Peschisolido was given the nod by the younger generation in the Steveston-Richmond East riding, with 48.7 per cent of the vote, or 1,386 ballots cast in his favour at the 20 participating schools.
However, at the schools inside the Richmond Centre riding, which went right to the wire on election night with Alice Wong the eventual winner, the Tory incumbent MP was overwhelmingly thrown out of office, as the Liberal’s newcomer Lawrence Woo “swept to power” with 37.16 per cent of the vote or 1,023 nods in his favour — a full eight per cent more than Wong.
During Student Vote Week (Oct. 13-16), elementary and high school students across Canada took on the roles of election officials and voted for the candidates running in their local riding.
Their vote followed a series of instruction and activities focused on federal government, research into the candidates, parties and issues, as well as dialogue with family and friends.
In total in Richmond, 5,842 students cast their votes in 40 schools across the two ridings.
Nationally, the Liberals dominance during Student Vote was even more glaring than in the actual federal election, with them winning 226 “seats,” ahead of the Conservatives with 70, NDP with 40 and the Greens with four.
And if voting habits are anything to go by, the Tories could have their work cut out for generations to come.
More than 850,000 votes were reported nationwide from more than 6,000 schools, representing all 338 federal ridings.
The full results for the candidates and the Richmond schools are listed below.
The purpose of Student Vote is to provide young Canadians with an opportunity to experience the voting process firsthand and build the habits of informed and engaged citizenship.
Richmond Centre Student Vote:
Vincent Chiu (Green Party of Canada): 344 votes (12.5%); Jack Trovato (New Democratic Party) 599 votes (21.76%); Alice Wong (Conservative Party of Canada) 787 votes (28.59%); Lawrence Woo (Liberal Party of Canada) 1,023 votes (37.16%).
Steveston-Richmond East Student Vote:
Matthew Swanston (Libertarian Party of Canada) 58 (1.88%); Scott Stewart (New Democratic Party) 605 (19.59%); Laura-Leah Shaw (Green Party of Canada) 287 (9.29%); Kenny Chiu (Conservative Party of Canada) 753 (24.38%); Joe Peschisolido (Liberal) 1,386 (44.87%).
