Young voters expected to lag behind older demographics again — JYAN
...study suggests young people dissatisfied with two main political parties
KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Jamaica Youth Advocacy Network (JYAN) says the real work to engage young voters will begin after the general election, as youth turnout is again expected to lag behind older demographics.
Executive Director Shannique Bowden made the point in a statement on Monday, following the release of a JYAN study examining the attitudes and behaviours of Jamaicans aged 18 to 29 toward politics and voting.
The survey found that while more than 60 per cent of respondents were registered to vote, nearly one-third said they had no intention of casting a ballot. Bowden noted that the findings confirm what has long been observed— young people are deeply dissatisfied with the country’s two main political parties.
According to the study, trust in government averaged just 46 per cent, with corruption, lack of transparency and the influence of money in politics cited as major concerns. Many youth also expressed frustration with the style of campaigning, describing it as gimmick-driven, shallow and focused more on personal attacks than solutions to real issues.
“Many view both parties as ‘two sides of the same coin,” Bowden explained. “What this means, at least from JYAN’s perspective, is that moving forward we will continue to advocate for more opportunities for young people to participate in the process. Voting is the big event, but there are many smaller opportunities before elections where youth can get involved and make their voices heard. If that happens, the level of dissatisfaction may not be so great next time around.”
Despite the low expectations for youth voter participation, Bowden said the data offer an opportunity to strengthen discussions about participatory democracy. She stressed that young people want more meaningful outcomes from the political process and should be given avenues to directly influence policy making.
“Being at the decision-making table is important, but how do you get to the table if you can’t find it?” she asked. “JYAN will be working to bridge those gaps, whether through parliamentary submissions and consultations.”
Bowden encouraged Jamaicans to access the full findings of the study, which are available on JYAN’s website.
