Who will stoke youth voter passion?

Mmegi Editor | Friday July 25, 2014 13:21

The area of youths and the electoral process is a historically contentious area of debate within Botswana which often reaches a groundswell at or near elections.

The debate has been driven by Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) data proving the stubborn persistence of apathy over the years, with youth indifference a particularly troubling trait.

For decades now, perhaps since the 1990s, youth participation in elections, both as candidates and as voters, has dwindled noticeably, leading to a diversity of opinion on the cause.

While the population has become generally younger, the percentage of vote-age youths actually registering and participating in elections has declined.

Experts say the country’s generally stable socio-economic growth over the decades has blunted youth interest in politics, with many satisfied with watching from the sidelines. It has also been said that the existing political parties are inherently receptive to older candidates whom they believe resonate better with the generally older voters. The youth vote, therefore has not been sought or needed historically and the youth as a voting constituency have played second fiddle to other more weighty groups.

While nearly all political parties have youth wings, the growth of these groups and even the emergence of charismatic leaders does not appear reflected in greater youth voter registration or votes in elections, according to IEC data. The youth themselves cite a number of reasons for their indifference, including inflexible voter rules that encourage registration and voting by those in rural elders, who are often the elderly.

At some point, however, the blame game needs to stop. Legislators, political parties and the IEC need to strategise around incentivising the electoral process for youths, especially according to the areas where deterrents have been identified.

Just this week, the IEC announced that the number of national voter transfers had reached epic proportions, which points to a critical need for more flexible voter registration processes. While political parties and their youth wings are beginning to see the light, it is important that efforts be focused on sensitising the youth on the importance of participating in elections, before plying them with propaganda. In this light, the US Embassy’s efforts are important in being a largely apolitical organisation pursuing the furtherance of democracy. The youth, however, should equally not sit idly by waiting for voter education as the future of this country is in their hands. Their own children, in turn, will neither forgive nor forget their indifference.

                                                                  Today’s thought

 

 “People often say that, in a democracy, decisions are made by a majority of the people. Of course, that is not true. Decisions are made by a majority of those who make themselves heard and who vote -

a very different thing.”

                                                                   - Walter H. Judd