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.

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

For many young Jamaicans, the idea that “your vote is your voice” feels more like a slogan than reality, with neither the ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) nor the Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) proving attractive.

With the country mere weeks away from its 19th general election, a number of young people have cited dissatisfaction, disillusionment, and distrust in the political system as reasons for opting out of the electoral process.

The May 31, 2025 voters’ list — which is to be used in the next general election — has 2,077,799 registered voters with just over 384,000 or approximately 18 per cent being in the 18-29 age group.

The list includes 39,491 registered voters between the ages of 18 and 19, another 154,832 between 20 and 24, while 189,990 fall within the 25 to 29 age range — making Gen Z a formidable electoral force should they choose to participate.

But last week, several Gen Zers from across the island told the Jamaica Observer they had no intention of voting.

Among them was Luke, an office worker, who explained his reluctance to participate in the electoral process.

“I don’t intend to possess a voter’s identification card. I feel no sense of personal responsibility in casting a vote. To me, the connection between my individual vote and actual change seems indirect and unclear. Without seeing immediate or tangible impact, it’s hard to feel that my participation directly influences the outcome,” said Luke.

His view was endorsed by several other young people, who argued that politicians only engage the public when it is time for an election and then tend to disappear once they secure votes.

According to Jevaun Brown, this pattern of behaviour has led to his decision to abstain from voting.

“To me, both parties are more or less the same. Nothing happens towards the development of anywhere, unless it’s time for elections. Recently, I have seen our roads getting fixed and people are getting back water, but that only happens when it’s near to election time. This is because they want votes, and then after they receive the votes, nothing. The two of them do the same thing, so why should I vote for one when the other is just the same?” reasoned Brown.

“The way I see it, whether you vote for either of them you’re setting yourself up for five years of diminishing returns. So you’re investing your time and energy to vote, only for the next five years to be the exact same, so it makes no sense,” added Brown. “You a go run up and down, vote, create excitement, but the outcome nah benefit you, it more a benefit the Government.”

For some young voters like Orville Douglas, who lives in rural Jamaica, political apathy stems from years of neglect and underdevelopment in communities.

“I have observed certain things in my community where Members of Parliament are supposed to be taking initiative with the maintenance of certain utilities, sanitisation, or water distribution, and even the fixing of roads, but they come up short every time,” said Douglas.

He added that his decision to distance himself from the political process has also been shaped by what he believes is the failure of politicians to do enough to help young people in poverty-stricken communities.

According to another youngster, concerns over political violence have also contributed to disengagement among youth.

“I live in a community strongly affiliated with a particular party. When you go against popular consensus they would act violently. As a result of this, my immediate family and I chose against attaining a voter’s ID,” said the 23-year-old, whose identity is being withheld.

Another frustration shared by several young Jamaicans is the influence of familial loyalty for a particular political party, in which people vote based on tradition rather than political performance or accountability.

Abigail Prendergast believes this creates an unproductive political culture.

“My main reason for not… [intending to vote] in the upcoming election amounts to some level of voter apathy, especially under a two-party system where eventually policy differences do tend to dissolve into — not to put it lightly — kind of a high school rivalry where it’s more so about loyalties and who you’ve been historically aligned with or who has the better image, rather than actual differences and application of their manifesto,” she said.

“So I would say I’m a bit of an apathetic voter — they’re both not my favourite, so let me just see wherever the chip falls,” added Prendergast.

But Sharian Blagrove, a 23-year-old from Montego Bay, St James, is determined to cast her vote in the next general election.

“I am voting because my vote is my voice and, as the popular saying goes, ‘Closed mouths don’t get fed.’ I have always advocated not for a party, but for the decisions made in the best interest of the people. It was never about bleeding green or orange, it was always about the opportunities for the average Jamaican,” said Blagrove.

She argued that the challenges many young people face make it difficult to stay hopeful, but this should not prevent them from voting.

“I do believe that more young people should be concerned with what their country deems as important, after all, you will have to bear the aftermath of a situation you could have changed with one vote. Rather than sulking and saying that nothing makes sense, why not pick the sense out of the nonsense and choose what’s best for you and your family?” added Blagrove as she encouraged Gen Zers to carefully reflect before choosing to opt out of the process altogether.

“Ask some serious questions: ‘Where do you see yourself post-election?’ ‘Who do you think, by way of factual and statistically backed statements, will provide you with the environment to flourish?’ It was never about the campaigning because the proof is, indeed, in the pudding.

“It all goes back to who comes the closest to your beliefs, to fostering a better Jamaica for you and your family to flourish,” said Blagrove.