I recently worked as an Information Assistant at a polling station in Oshawa during the 2025 Ontario provincial election, where I excitedly anticipated youth turnout. While working through the election, I was interested in hearing about the issues most pressing for young Black voters. Issues of anti-Black racism have reemerged in Canada, yet addressing them has not seemed to be a top political priority in recent times. 

My excitement quickly turned to disappointment when I saw the dismal turnout at my polling station — less than five Black youths came to vote. 

This experience left me questioning why Black youth voter turnout is so low, especially when many Black youth already feel excluded from the political process. I believe Black youth are systematically apathetic toward Canadian electoral processes, and that this must be addressed if we are to achieve meaningful Black representation in Canadian governments. 

The harmful implications of youth voter apathy 

I made and sent a post-election survey to Black Canadian youth voters — two of the three respondents were UTSC students. In the survey, I asked if and why they had voted. One student voted, and another explained that they forgot to vote. 

Yet, both of their responses concerning the decisions that went into their vote choices were incredibly vague — neither of them had put much thought into who they voted for. This made me wonder whether they voted for a candidate at random, which is a common trend I’ve noticed among Canadian youth through my conversations with other young voters. 

Another key trend was exemplified by the response of the third respondent who was a 26-year-old OCAD student. She said that she hadn’t voted, wasn’t familiar with the political scene, and believed her vote wouldn’t have mattered anyway. 

This third respondent’s response reflects 21-year-old Queen’s University student Russell Van Raalte’s perspective he shared with Global News that Canadian ‘Gen Zers’ — people between the ages of 13 and 28 — may be unwilling to vote because they either view the government as indifferent or believe that their ballots are ultimately meaningless. 

Many new voters have this mindset or are altogether uninterested in politics. In 2021, only 46 per cent of eligible youth voted in the federal election — while just two years prior, nearly 54 per cent of youth voted. This marked another year of continually decreasing youth voter turnout in Canada. 

According to the 2015 National Youth Survey by Elections Canada, two primary obstacles contribute to low youth voting: a lack of motivation and limited access to the voting process. 

But this survey is from 10 years ago, illustrating how youth across different time periods have consistently shown less interest in voting compared to older people. This phenomenon isn’t unique to today’s youth and may reflect a broader issue — Canadian politics’ long-standing underrepresentation of young people’s interests.

I fear that if the historical trend of growing apathy toward voting — contributing to the persistent decline in youth voting — is not addressed or corrected soon, youth voter turnout will continue to decrease, and the representation of marginalized groups will never be achieved.

The unique case of Black youth voting

Research on race and specifically the implications of being a Black person in Canadian politics — whether as a politician or a voter — is limited, and while youth overall experience a profound sense of disconnection from the political system, the systemic barriers contributing to this sentiment have unique origins and manifestations for Black youth specifically.

Black youth perceive voting as futile. Many Black Ontarians want politicians to examine their policies specifically “through an anti-Black systemic lens.” Without this approach, Black voters tend to believe that the government does not truly have their best interests at heart.

Additionally, given the historical bureaucratic obstacles faced by Black voters in Canada, Black youth likely experience a deep sense of disenfranchisement and disillusionment, which further discourages their participation in elections.

The lack of Black representation in politics also reinforces feelings of alienation and skepticism. As of 2022, only 19 out of 338 members of Parliament (MPs) are Black Canadians. When Black youth do not see people who look like them in positions of political power, it becomes difficult for them to believe their votes will make a difference.

This sense of alienation is a lasting impact of the historical marginalization of Black communities in political discussions and policymaking, stemming from the ongoing exclusion of Black representation in Canadian politics.

Strategies for engagement

To increase voter turnout among Black youth, several steps must be taken. 

We need to boost funding for civic education in schools, especially in marginalized communities. For Black students, these lessons could emphasize the power of their vote in addressing historical injustices and driving meaningful change.

And, importantly, political parties in Ontario must prioritize diversity in their candidate selection and create platforms that enable individuals from underrepresented groups to run for office. 

Overall, Black youth’s political participation is vital for addressing their concerns and shaping them into effective leaders for the future. Empowering marginalized youth to engage in and care about electoral politics is crucial for ensuring that the political system truly reflects the needs and aspirations of all Canadians.

Omolola Ayorinde is a fourth-year student at UTSC studying political science and public law.