Youth Duluth & That Is The Absolute Truth!

R. Joey Koopmans, B. Admin. Ward XII YEG City Councilor Byelection Candidate, Millwoods Public Library Terminal #XVIX, Edmonton, Alberta

January XXVIIIth, MMXVI

Hon. Dave Eggen, B. Ed., MLA, Minister of Education, New Democratic, Edmonton-Calder

Dear Dave:

As I sit here in Ward XII, I am reminded of all the times that I have worked as an election worker & how we always wind up facing staff shortages on Election Day & other days of staff. Then I see this group of students studying here in this library. I asked them if they would ever become elections workers & they all agreed they would.

I. I am not saying lower the voting age from XVIII, but I do say let youth as young as XIV work as Election workers at polling stations & in offices to cover employee shortages due to the aging population. Many of these seniors make mistakes in paperwork matters, thus leading to longer lineups & wait times, so this would clearly improve the overall time it takes to cast a ballot. Plus, making it so every election worker at problem polling stations have to stay longer, sometimes for hours if they lose count. Thus depriving these election workers of their families, many who are being paid by the day rather than hourly for an already XIV + hour day & then to have to stay longer if a senior screws up or gets confused, its maddening, especially if there is little to no bus service at later hours!

II. This experience in addition to providing them with youth employment for school expenses, also gives them a start on their resume under the job experience. Which would be a great thing for @EdmNextGen & @EdmYouthCouncil & @YegVote & @ProjectYegVote to get behind.

III. Allowing the youth to work in an election setting will allow them to garner credits in Social Studies & Work Experience courses. Thus, they are being helped along in their overall education in getting practical political & electoral knowledge in a "real time" setting. Plus, being able to work in an election station will make them excited about voting & thus more confident when they themselves reach voting age & can vote for the first time.

A Historic Thirty-Two Way Vote Split,

R. Joey

Source: "The Campaign II Elect R. Joey Koopmans Ward XII YEG City Councilor."