Low Youth Voter Turnout: A Policy Concern In New Zealand

Why the low level of youth engagement is a policy problem

Discuss about the Youth and Political Participation in New Zealand.

Many democracies around the world are experiencing low participation of youth in the voting process. Importantly, elections of leaders define the foundation of democracies because citizens get the opportunity to choose their leaders. The elected leaders have to address the expectations of their voters (Wood 2013). However, the failure of certain groups to engage in the electoral process is of a great policy concern. Although New Zealand’s overall voter turnout stands at 79 percent, the turnout among the youths is considerably low (Dinsdale 2015). For instance, in the 2008 general election, only 78,000 young voters turned out to vote. In fact, even the eligible Kiwis never registered as reported by Wood (2017). This implies that the youths never turn out to vote or enrol to vote. The issue affects nearly all the countries across the world where the youth turnout remains below the average. This long-standing issue forms the basis of this study because it explains why it has become a policy concern.

Why the low level of youth engagement is a policy problem

The youths will form the leadership of tomorrow. This has to be addressed today to avoid disenfranchisement. Studies have indicated that the disenfranchised youths can debilitate a country thus making this issue a policy concern (Dinsdale 2015). To this effect, many countries are committing research to highlight the underlying reasons for the low participation in the voting process (Wood 2013). The future leadership must be encouraged to engage in their democratic rights to avoid the gap in representation. 

The New Zealand Electoral Commission conducted a study to identify the reasons for the low turnout among the youths. According to the findings, the commission realized that the youths are intimidated and overwhelmed by the political process (Electoral Commission 2015). This implies that the group is less motivated to engage in the process. The politicians have become distrusted thus frustrate the political processes. The commission also blamed the low turnout on the lack of political knowledge and motivation (Trevett 2013; Riley 2015). For example, lack of communication and voter education is some of the barriers to process. Additionally, the legible Kiwis or non-voter segments appeared disinterested in the political activities (Stones-Havas 2015). These people also lack motivation and knowledge to enhance their participation in the process. The study also showed that many youths identify the enrolment difficulties thus inconveniences them (Wood 2017). The segment believes that voting process is tedious and a waste of time. As such, they rarely value it.

Promotion of voter registration

The principled voters have made it personal conviction not to vote. For instance, these segment view that their votes are ineffective because it can never influence the policies (The Economist 2014). To this effect, they value petitioning, volunteering, and protesting to influence the political policies. Additionally, the NZ Commission found that young people would vote if their parents voted previously (Electoral Commission 2015). The other causes of low voter turnout include the lack of civic education, the inability of votes to bring change, difficulties navigating the process of voting. Political alienation, inconvenience, knowledge, and apathy are some barriers to political participation among the youths (Dinsdale 2015). Therefore, the commission should enlighten them to understand voting is not a duty but a right.

Promotion of voter registration

The youths in New Zealand requires a continued training in the participation of the voting process. The youths should be taken through civic participation training to enlighten them on their role as explained by Yeung, Passmore and Packer (2012). This should involve creating opportunity and promoting voter registration for the youths. The effort will see the youths interface with state policymakers; elected officials and candidates thus promote youth voice (Dinsdale 2015). Indeed, with promoting youth voter registration, the targeted audience will form a civic engagement and life-long voting habits. As founded by various scholars, youth voting and civic engagement would be critical in holding the voted officials accountable. This can be achieved by providing them with on-going training programs in the civic engagement (Barker and McMillan 2017). The on-going training is critical for youth so that they can feel empowered thus engage in various projects. The New Zealand government should coordinate and invest in training opportunities in the community resources, government structure, and policy processes.

The government and relevant organizations should conduct registration and voter education drives. Without a doubt, registering young people at early ages can boost voting turnout. Based on the electoral analyses, voting behaviour is a habit. Despite these analyses, only 59 percent of the youths aged 18-24 years are registered (Dinsdale 2015). The county elections officials should undertake a rigorous effort to engage in registration drives and voter education. The electoral supervisors should also organize forums with youths by directly engaging them in the process of election (Electoral Commission 2014). With the candidate forums, the youths can have the opportunity to identify issues affecting the youths and the community, as they get educated on the voting process.

Institutionalizing youth voice in policymaking processes

The youth voice is essential in the policymaking processes. The government should institutionalize these voices by providing opportunities within the government where they can engage with policymakers thus enhance proper investment and policy decisions relevant to the needs of youths (Riley 2015). The New Zealand government needs to create a youth advisory councils that can involve the youths in local planning and mapping efforts. Through the formal advisory councils, the youths will interact with policymakers thus encourage them to participate in programs and policies that serve their needs. The state should support the youth advisory councils thus allow youth’s voice to shape youth policy (Sturmfels and Manion 2012). This should involve establishing legislation, Children’s Cabinets, and state executives to promote the needs of the youths. In drafting the legislation, the state should support the council to conduct public hearings that would improve the legislation.

The state should further involve the New Zealand youths in planning and mapping activities so that they can utilize available resources in the communities. The move will see the community development efforts serve the needs and expectations of the youths. Policymakers should also support them in state planning and community mapping efforts (Genter 2017). The New Zealand government should also support grant programs for youths. The youth-rung grant programs will help the youths to create priorities and review applications to monitor their proposals. Such engagement prioritizes the youths’ agenda thus allows them to engage in planning, policy, and decision-making deeply.

The policymakers need to promote policies supporting youth engagement. Through this effort, the youths can understand the significance of participating in civic duty and policy guidance. The policymakers must recognize the unique knowledge, experience, and value of the New Zealand youths thus facilitate their participation in guiding policy and public problem solving comprehensively (Riley 2015). The state can promote the supportive policies by creating the bill of rights for the youths. Through the youth-led process, it is possible for the government to articulate and identify the best youths and children’s rights. The youth-led process makes it possible for the youths to participate in the planning and policy decisions (Electoral Commission 2014). With the bill of rights, the policymakers can enlighten the youths regarding their issues thus offers an engagement opportunity.

The New Zealand government should support policies, increase access and encourage youth voting (Genter 2017). The young voters often move more than the older voters do. The policymakers should streamline the registration and voting process to encourage youths to participate in the process. By allowing the voter awareness to revolve around state regulations, it will be possible to increase voter participation of the youth (Barker and McMillan 2017). For instance, the online voter registration can simplify the process and it accessible. Since the majority of the youths use the internet, it will save time and money because the process will cost about $1 for every transaction.

Supporting policies to encourage youth engagement

The results of the solutions would be evident during the election. For instance, when the turnout of youths on the voting day will increase, it will be a reflection of the continued efforts to engage them in the registration and voting process (Yeung et al. 2012). The increased number of voters on the roll will also evaluate the solution. Indisputably, the youthful voters have the power to drive peaceful revolution. This will see them vote for leaders who can articulate their needs and interests. For example, in the New Zealand’s election, the youth voters can transform the democratic space by participating in the electoral process (Edwards 2017). Given their power, they can use their voting rights to support their candidature. The solution will also be evident when the support for local communication and capacity are evident, especially when the state offers technical assistance and oversight the programs and create opportunities for the youths. Similarly, when the state provides a broad-based input where involvement with youths and community stakeholders increases, the implementation of the policies become possible.

Conclusion

In many democracies, allowing citizens to participate in an election is a core principle anchored in their constitution. Since the elected leaders have the mandate to formulate and implement policies relevant to the needs of the society, the failure of a certain group, like the youths to turn out to vote may mean they lack representation. Although New Zealand has a strong voter enrolment and turnout than other European countries, it seems worrying that the turnout for the young voters is lower than other groups. The New Zealand youths lag behind in voter enrolment and turnout. This could be caused by the low voter engagement and participation thus making it a policy problem. The reasons for the low level of youth engagement and solutions have formed the basis of this article.

Barker, F and McMillan, K, 2017, “Factors influencing the electoral participation of Asian immigrants in New Zealand”, Political Science, pp. 1-22.

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Stones-Havas, T, 2015, Comparison of voters and non-voters: Results from the General Social Survey 2013, Auckland, Auckland Council.

Sturmfels, D, and Manion, K, 2012, “Giving children a voice: paving the way for Child, youth and family’s participation Strategy”, Social Work Now, vol. 49, pp. 40-47.

The Economist, 2014, “The Economist explains: why young people don?t vote”, The Economist, available at: https://www.economist.com/blogs/economist-explains/2014/10/economist-explains-

Trevett, C, 2013, “Local elections 2013: Low turnout spurs look at vote system”, Herald, available at: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11139617

Wood, B, 2017, May 23, “Young Kiwis more engaged as citizens than we think”, Future Learning, available at: https://www.newsroom.co.nz/@future-learning/2017/05/22/29782/young-kiwis-more-engaged-than-we-think

Wood, P, 2013, “Citizenship and participation of young people in Aotearoa/ New Zealand”, Thesis, available at: https://mro.massey.ac.nz/bitstream/handle/10179/4979/02_whole.pdf

Yeung, P, Passmore, A and Packer, T, 2012, “Examining citizenship participation in young Australian adults: a structural equation analysis”, Journal of Youth Studies, vol. 15, no. 1, pp. 73-98.