Jim Bradley notes shrinking media can only cover so much information
Niagara's Regional chair is weighing in on plummeting voter turnout.
During the last municipal election, 25% of eligible voters went to a polling station for Welland, and the percentage wasn't much higher for other Niagara areas.
The problem isn't just in Niagara, but also at the federal and provincial levels.
Jim Bradley is pointing to a shrinking media for one reason why it's at record lows.
He recalls his days in provincial politics when the press gallery was considerably larger than it is now, and it's the same for local media. "When you don't have a newsroom of 10, of people going out to cover the local school board meetings, and municipal meetings and so on, it means there's less information available to the public."
The Regional Chair adds federal and provincial parties spend millions on advertising to make sure people have a better idea of candidates, whereas the resources aren't as available at the municipal level.
He also acknowledges shrinking voter trust in public institutions and politicians.
"It would really take a careful study by a political science departments of various universities to make a determination as to what specifically turns people off from voting," he points out.
Bradley adds more civics classes could help students realize municipal politics are just as important as federal and provincial.
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