A soon-to-be first-time voter is hoping to arm Canadians with a little more information come Oct. 21.
Laef Kucheran, who lives in Burnaby, will be voting in his first election in a couple of weeks, but the 18-year-old has been preparing for this day for a very long time.
Four years ago, he created , an app and website that gathers candidate lists and party platforms from across Canada all in one place.
One tool lets you compare platforms on a given issue and stances as you go. The app will tally up which party you agree with most.
害羞草研究所淚 was intrigued about democracy, about how people are informed or not informed,害羞草研究所� Kucheran told Black Press Media by phone Tuesday. 害羞草研究所淲hat you know, what you don害羞草研究所檛 know and how that affects your willingness to do something.害羞草研究所�
What he found was that many people were interested in issues like housing, climate change or LGBTQ2+ rights, but not the finer details of electing people to public office.
害羞草研究所淭hey were interested in what you accomplish using democracy, but they weren害羞草研究所檛 interested in the actual running ballot,害羞草研究所� he said.
Kucheran said a lot of information is available in the media and on political parties害羞草研究所� websites, but most people don害羞草研究所檛 have the time, or desire, to go through all of that.
He said many of his peers are interested in politics as well and wish they could vote.
害羞草研究所淚 talk with a 16-year-old who害羞草研究所檒l say, 害羞草研究所業害羞草研究所檓 really interested in the government害羞草研究所檚 position on climate change, or LGBTQ rights害羞草研究所� but I still don害羞草研究所檛 know all the parties.害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟
When those teens get to voting age, the interest in politics remains 害羞草研究所� as does the lack of clarity.
害羞草研究所淎ll of a sudden, they have a lot of other stuff to deal with. They have to look for jobs, look at post-secondary and they also no longer have the time.害羞草研究所�
Although he had younger people in mind when he created the app, he says many of his users are in their 40s, 50s and beyond.
害羞草研究所淚n the end, it害羞草研究所檚 not something that害羞草研究所檚 about the technology, it害羞草研究所檚 about something that害羞草研究所檚 easily accessible.害羞草研究所�
Kucheran, who has operated the website through two previous elections, said this is the first time he害羞草研究所檚 working with riding candidates to add their information to the database.
害羞草研究所淚 think it害羞草研究所檚 90 per cent of people who vote on the party, not the candidate,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淵et, it害羞草研究所檚 the candidate in the end who害羞草研究所檚 going to represent you as an MP in Ottawa.害羞草研究所�
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