YOUTH APATHY IN POLLS THREATENS DEMOCRACY
YOUTH participation is one important underlying premise of democratic governance.
Active youth participation allows young people to cement their voice within politics and the legislative making process. This is imperative in creating long lasting democratic virtues and outcomes.
Despite the importance of youth participation in democracy, empirical evidence globally indicates that young people are becoming more and more disenchanted with political and electoral processes. South Africa has not been an exception.
Although civic participation cannot be reduced to electoral voting alone, elections are a good indicator of the willingness of citizens to participate in the democratic system.
Youth voter turnout in South Africa remains low. In this way, the current relationship between young people and politics in South Africa, characterised by political apathy and non-participation on the part of the young, can be considered a contemporary crisis of democracy.
Several notional factors, which are not mutually exclusive, explain low voter participation amongst young people.
First, the habit formation explanation argues that one of the reasons for the prevalence of low voter participation amongst young people is that they have had fewer opportunities to develop the democratic habit of voting.
Those who have voted have not yet reaped the rewards of voting as there remains a huge divergence between electoral promises and socio-economic outcomes.
Second, the opportunity cost explanation states that it is difficult for young adults to find the time to register and vote due to livelihood security demands which drive them to structure their activities towards financial security rather than voting participation.
Last, the alternative participation argument postulates that low electoral participation among the youth is as a result of the rise in alternative forms of democratic participation.
Ultimately, low political and civic participation among youth in South Africa points to the fact that youth find formal political processes not only frustrating and alienating but also less likely to yield desired results. This warrants government intervention through appropriate legislative mechanisms to support youth participation.
The recent proposed amendments to the Electoral Bills Act are aimed at reinforcing free and fair elections, the protection of voters and the security of personal information. The bill also intends to enhance the entire legislative process and make it easier for citizens to participate.
For all its notable intentions, what the bill has failed to recognise is that the legislative process lacks the proper inducements to encourage youth participation by under-appreciating technologies which are employed by young people for political participation.
Indeed, it is not that young people are disinterested in taking part in policy making, but rather that they choose to use methods of participation that are not appreciated by the law-making process.
In our dispensation, the government, civil educators, and political organisers need to take note that technology is one of the most important tools that grab the attention of the youth. The Electoral Knowledge Council has found that globally “technology is being used more as a tool to assist voters to cast their votes”.
Given the challenges faced by young people, such as unemployment, inequality and a stark rise in unsecured debt, the government needs to realise that a pivotal way it can rebuild its relationship with the youth is by altering the legislative process in ways that appreciate evolving youth interests and technological developments.
A re-imagined public policymaking process which caters for youth needs, however, will require careful consideration to prevent potential exclusion due to inability of access and socio-economic status.