HALIFAX – Mandatory voting should be law in our province.

That according to a local columnist who believes it will raise voter turnout among younger Nova Scotians.

With less than a week before Nova Scotia heads to the polls, Halifax columnist Tristan Cleveland says he feels the province’s political parties place heavy emphasis on seniors, dropping younger people by the way side.

This is often the case as seniors tend to vote in larger numbers than younger Nova Scotians.

Cleveland tells NEWS 95.7 our province should follow Australia’s lead, and make voting mandatory.

“Countries that have mandatory voting, with only a $20 fine if you don’t go, it gets voting rates up to 94 per cent,” said Cleveland. “This is structurally so crucial for our future.”

He believes by making voting mandatory, it will erase gaps between age, income and education, and force political leaders to place more emphasis on issues affecting younger Nova Scotians.