SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Anika Sparling turned 18 right before the last federal election in October 2008, allowing her to vote for the first time. It's something she said more youth should try to do.

On Monday, Election Day, organizers of a non-partisan event called Youth Vote Walk are encouraging youth to go out and vote. Volunteers braved the flurries and crisp Monday air earlier this week to put up posters and spread the word about the walk.

"It's really sad that we are so apathetic and considering we have the freedom to vote, I think it's also a responsibility to go out and vote," said Sparling.

She said with youth risking their lives to fight for their country overseas, young and old alike should act on their constitutional right and voice who's ideas with whom they agree.

"There are young people, same age as us literally dying for this exact same right and I just think it's so important for us to look to our future. We are the next leaders of the country."

Twenty-three-year-old Violca Memedi agrees that youth should be the people facilitating new ideas and implementing change in government and society.

Memedi said she doesn't notice young people talking about politics, even as the federal election ramps up, and she said this needs to change.

"I don't see a lot of people, a lot of my peers, talking about it or being excited or even negative about it," she said.

"I just think that the youth has a really huge contribution in that and just by voting, by getting your foot in the door, that creates new ideas ... I think we are the new leaders and we need to promote that, facilitate that and we need to actually become that and have that be a reality instead of just talking about it and discussing it," said Memedi.

Youth Vote Walk will start at 12 p.m. Monday at Aurora College, according to event organizer Jerry Sweet.

He said it is targeted at youth from 18 to 30 but is not limited to that age group.

"We're going to march from Aurora College to city hall with the idea to energize and remind youth and everybody to make sure that they get out and vote on Election Day," said Sweet.

He said four candidates, including NDP incumbent Dennis Bevington, Conservative candidate Sandy Lee, Liberal candidate Joe Handley and Green Party candidate Eli Purchase will be attending the walk to city hall where they will then have a chance to say a few non-partisan words to the crowd, according to Sweet. On Election Day, candidates are not allowed to campaign.

"We'll have a carpool, including a limousine, to go to their voting station as well as back to the downtown core," said Sweet.

"The youth turnout in the NWT has been quite dismal on Election Day ... What our intention is, is to generate interest and excitement in the youth to come out and vote. It's very important for youth to be involved, educated in politics and what's happening in our country and so far. It's terribly apathetic and we're hoping to change that."

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