Skip to content

Burnaby teen says his election info website is more important than ever

A 19-year-old Burnaby resident says his website comparing the platforms of various parties in elections is particularly necessary during the current provincial vote. Laef Kucheran has been running VoteMate.
laef kucheran
Laef Kucheran has been running VoteMate.org for five years.

A 19-year-old Burnaby resident says his website comparing the platforms of various parties in elections is particularly necessary during the current provincial vote.

Laef Kucheran has been running VoteMate.org for five years, during previous federal and provincial elections, but this one, he believes, is the most important for the website.

“People often don't vote just because they don't feel they know enough about the options. That'll be even worse this time because, with the pandemic, candidates can't go door-knocking or attend all-candidates meetings,” he said in an email. “Most of my friends don't even know an election is happening, and hardly anyone I know of any age really knows what the parties stand for.”

The website allows parties to add their policies, which users can then compare and contrast with other parties. (As of 3:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 9, only the BC Libertarian Party has added their platform to the website. All other parties’ pages contain only a shrug emoji with the statement that “This party is yet to add their policies to VoteMate. We’ll pass along your disapproval.”)

“VoteMate streamlines learning about the election and your vote, putting all the information you need in one place. There's a section with every party's policy on each issue side-by-side,” Kucheran said, offering an example from the federal election last year. A similar section for this provincial election will be “ready to go this weekend.”

Kucheran describes himself as a web designer and aspiring journalist. While he’s been running the website for five years, last year’s federal election was the first time he was actually able to vote.

For more information, check out the website at votemate.org.

The final vote in this election will be held on Oct. 24.

Follow Dustin on Twitter at @dustinrgodfrey
Email 
dgodfrey@burnabynow.com