Twenty-three more nights of sleep and then we can go to the polls again for the House of Representatives elections. To help students at Drenthe College in Emmen make a choice, the school is organizing an election festival.
Many students can vote for the first time in November. “That’s exciting, I still have to delve deeper into the games,” says a student. But someone else has already made the choice. “I’m not from the countryside myself, but I support the farmers anyway. Without the farmers I wouldn’t have fries. I like fries and chips, that’s important.”
It is not the first time that Drenthe College, together with ProDemos and the National Youth Council, organizes the election festival. There are various activities, workshops and of course you can complete a voting guide.
The aim of the festival is to inform and motivate the students. “That students learn to be critical when there is an issue and dare to open their mouths. We do not direct,” explains Willem Borsboom, entrepreneurship and citizenship teacher.
According to the school, not enough students go to the polls. “They do not recognize the need. They do not really understand the consequences of not voting. Invalid voting is also not okay for the final voting results,” says Borsboom. “They learn here to make good choices for themselves.”
Curious about what topics the students consider important? Then watch the video below.