As part of my MA in Professional Communications studies, I am going to be doing a substantial piece of research. I'm hoping I get approved for a thesis (which allows more research time and the ability to conduct interviews / surveys).
What I am planning to research is what voting outreach messages work best to build trust in non voting youth so that they are encouraged to vote.
With voter turnout in Kamloops under 30% in the 2008 civic election, I hope this study will have some relevance to local voter outreach efforts. I think we miss out on so much community wisdom when people are so disengaged from the electoral process. I also think groups who don't vote in great numbers, such as youth, may not see their priorities well reflected in government.
As some may know, I've long been interested in increasing voter turnout at all levels of government. I am hoping my thesis will have national relevance and generally trying to frame the research that way thus far.
Still, I'm also really hoping the work will help increase voter turnout in Kamloops.
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