Sunday’s headline, ‘Orange or green? Nothing to vote for, say Gen Zers’ screams of the disenchanted disengagement that has become the signature trait of this group of young people who — and not only in this jurisdiction — have been showing deep scepticism toward institutions, loudly proclaiming political burnout, and refusing to participate in processes that they believe are rigged or morally compromised.

Gen Zers aren’t apathetic in the traditional sense; in fact, many of these young people care deeply about issues like social justice and economic fairness, but they’ll draw the line at voting, as they see it as choosing between two totally unacceptable options, and so they disengage as a form of protest or self-preservation.

They’re essentially caught in a collision between high expectations for justice and integrity, and low expectations for the political class.

Sunday’s read shows where efforts by the two major political parties to attract young voters seem destined to fail, as a significant portion of the country’s youth, particularly those from Generation Z (ages 18–28), are expressing disinterest in voting.

And, despite repeated calls to participate in the democratic process, these appeals appear to be falling on deaf ears.

The youngsters have cited dissatisfaction, disillusionment, and distrust in the political system as reasons for opting out of the electoral process.

And, truly, we can all attest that disappointment is a familiar feeling in politics. But with this particular group, this election year, it seems to be the dominant feeling. Of course, the disillusionment is for good reason — promises have been broken, urgent issues have been ignored, and cynicism feels justified.

But here is the truth no one has seemed willing to tell Gen Z: Not voting does not free you from the consequences of the election. It only guarantees that the decisions shaping your future will be made without you, and maybe to your detriment.

In a democracy, political influence is not a given — it’s claimed. And it’s claimed by those who show up. If you stay home, you are ceding your voice to those whose priorities may be diametrically opposed to yours. History has shown again and again that political outcomes are decided not by the loudest, but by the most persistent.

Somebody needs to tell Gen Z that voting is not about finding a flawless candidate who reflects your ideals in perfect symmetry. It is about choosing, even in disappointment, the direction less damaging to the issues that matter to you. Even small shifts in policy, governance, and laws, may not feel revolutionary now, but over time they determine the rights you have, the opportunities you’re offered, and the kind of life you and your children will live.

To abstain from voting, to not exercise your franchise, is not to stand apart from the system in some revolutionary move. Instead, it is to let others shape the world without your input. The machinery of government will keep moving whether you participate or not. And what a disaster that can be if you allow it to move independent of your input. Can you live with yourself when the machine slides in a direction that you can’t reverse?

The way towards change is to remain engaged, not to retreat. Your vote may not deliver the world you want today, but it is one of the few tools you have to make yourself a part of the process.

Silence in politics is not a protest. Silence is giving permission to others to choose your future for you. And in the times we are living in, permission is the most dangerous thing you can give.