Despite not being eligible to vote in a general election, kids as young as 14 will be able to vote for Saskatchewan’s next premier later this month.
On January 27, more than 1,800 people between the ages of 14 and 25 will get to cast their vote for the next leader of the Saskatchewan Party. The winner will replace Brad Wall as the party’s new leader, and premier of Saskatchewan.
The Saskatchewan Party has grown from 9,500 members in August 2017 – when Wall announced his upcoming retirement – to 27,125 as of December 18, 2017, the CBC reported Wednesday.
While Saskatchewan Party youth members between the ages of “14 and 15” have the right to vote in the leadership election, their parents have to fill out this “Parental Attestation Declaration” form.
From the SK Party website:
“Are you a youth member between the ages of 14 & 15 and need to prove your address to vote in the leadership election? Your parents can confirm your address by completing the Parental Attestation Declaration form.”
Social media weighs in:
Totally. Just not sure I agree with giving anyone who can’t vote in a general the right to vote in a leadership. More complex though, I realize. https://t.co/LiUFdwjjk0
— Tammy Robert (@tammyrobert) January 6, 2018
Today I learned that 14 year olds can become SK Party members. So, in theory, the next Premier could be chosen by people not old enough to vote in the next election #skpoli #pickapremier #newmeaningtoyouthvote
— kathy allen (@kathysaskie) January 5, 2018
one of our staffs 14 YO son became a member to vote. I wish 30 or 60 YO's were as engaged when voting muni prov or Federal.
— Kevin Korchinski (@kevink61) January 5, 2018
This is ludicrous. The legal voting age is 18 – no provincial or federal party should permit members under 18 to vote in a leadership race, especially one that is de facto a race for Premier.
— The Great Fiasco (@DuaneAlanCook) January 7, 2018
All Saskatchewan Party members that were members as of December 8, 2017, are eligible to vote in the leadership election on January 27, 2018.