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Student Apathy will hold back democratic process
The latest research report from the London School of Economics suggests that the absence of young voters will seriously damage the democratic process.
Can anything be done in time for the upcoming elections? Daniel Medusa investigates.
Local elections are set to take place all over the country starting next week and Jersey is no different in that young people are refusing to take part in the process. Student Oonagh Waters, 18 who is studying Politics, Sociology and Philosophy at Jersey 6th Form College said, “I would definitely want to vote. I think it is really important, but I just don’t know about anyone! What they stand for, what they do and stuff.”
Indeed, confusion around prospective candidates seems to be one of the key areas of concern. As the new report ‘Wading through Student Waters: A report into voting apathy among the young’ suggests, information about potential candidates together with a lack of clarity around purpose and political compass is not easy to find and navigate through. As such, potential voters such as Oonagh are therefore marginalised from the process.
Dr Miguel McSanchos from the University of Guernsey suggested that political candidates need to engage with young people more effectively. “Without democratic engagement we will be going backwards!” Dr McSanchos said at a recent lecture. “We have a great tradition of transforming the public sphere” he noted in reference to the pioneering work by German academic Jurgen Habermas. “It’s not just a question of politics, it’s also about literacy, discussion, engagement and the need to get young people thinking!”
“If students don’t vote then we are looking to go back to a period before the invention of the printing press, when young people couldn’t read or write.”
However, on the other hand, there are plenty of voices who disagree with this Jason Lewin was clear that he was going to vote. “I just need to talk to my friends and my parents before I make my decision.” Lewin felt that there was enough information out there and blamed young people for bringing on their own downfall. “If young people are CBA (n.b can’t be arsed!) then that is their own fault! It’s all about making an effort and not just moaning about everything all of the time.” He explained that his friends didn’t find any problem with either the voting system or the ideological ideas that underpin each candidate.
“We are not living in an authoritarian state!” He laughed! “We are living in a libertarian, free democracy and that means if people don’t want to vote, then they don’t have to.”
Local elections take place in Jersey next Wednesday 22nd July and the debate is now raging as to the extent to which apathy from young people will ensure that the same old patterns of voting will recur. For more information see pages 3-4 and OUR COMMENT page 18.