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.
91裸聊视频淚 was intrigued about democracy, about how people are informed or not informed,91裸聊视频� Kucheran told Black Press Media by phone Tuesday. 91裸聊视频淲hat you know, what you don91裸聊视频檛 know and how that affects your willingness to do something.91裸聊视频�
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.
91裸聊视频淭hey were interested in what you accomplish using democracy, but they weren91裸聊视频檛 interested in the actual running ballot,91裸聊视频� he said.
Kucheran said a lot of information is available in the media and on political parties91裸聊视频� websites, but most people don91裸聊视频檛 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.
91裸聊视频淚 talk with a 16-year-old who91裸聊视频檒l say, 91裸聊视频業91裸聊视频檓 really interested in the government91裸聊视频檚 position on climate change, or LGBTQ rights91裸聊视频� but I still don91裸聊视频檛 know all the parties.91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频�
When those teens get to voting age, the interest in politics remains 91裸聊视频� as does the lack of clarity.
91裸聊视频淎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.91裸聊视频�
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.
91裸聊视频淚n the end, it91裸聊视频檚 not something that91裸聊视频檚 about the technology, it91裸聊视频檚 about something that91裸聊视频檚 easily accessible.91裸聊视频�
Kucheran, who has operated the website through two previous elections, said this is the first time he91裸聊视频檚 working with riding candidates to add their information to the database.
91裸聊视频淚 think it91裸聊视频檚 90 per cent of people who vote on the party, not the candidate,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淵et, it91裸聊视频檚 the candidate in the end who91裸聊视频檚 going to represent you as an MP in Ottawa.91裸聊视频�
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