Youth Participation in Electoral Processes: New Roles for African

Policy Brief November 2015 Summary The youth generation in Africa is booming, with one-third of the population aged between 15 and Youth participation in 35. At the same time, youth tend to be disengaged from the democratic electoral processes: new process. Young people vote less frequently, stand as candidates less often and remain underrepresented roles for African electoral in electoral managerial functions. Electoral management bodies management bodies (EMBs) in Africa play a critical role in promoting youth participation Background in electoral processes. EMBs should Young people between the ages of 15 and 35 constitute one-third of Africa’s develop creative strategies for population. However, youth’s influence on national politics remains limited. There youth inclusion and engagement. is a general sense that traditional politics and representative democracy—whereby The experiences of EMBs already voters determine the outcome of power struggles at the ballot box—fail to attract pushing this agenda should be the attention of younger cohorts who feel alienated from political processes. shared among the community of Recent events have shown that youth are critical in bringing about social and practitioners. For EMBs that have political transformation in Africa. From the dissolution of the apartheid regime in not yet fully engaged, these success South Africa in the early 1990s and the Jasmine Revolution in Tunisia in 2011 to stories may serve as an important the ‘Y’en a Marre!’ (‘Enough is enough!’) and ‘Ma Carte d’Electeur, Mon Arme’ source of inspiration for initiatives (‘My voting card, my weapon’) campaigns in Senegal in 2011–12 and the third- that fit their historical contexts. term revolution in Burkina Faso in 2014, young people remain at the forefront of democratic struggles on the continent. When young people engage, authoritarian regimes may fall and countries’ political trajectories may shift. Nevertheless, African youth have been less involved in the aftermath of such critical engagements. Perceptions of exclusion have resulted in young people seeking alternative ways to express their dissatisfaction. About International IDEA When frustration reaches high levels, especially in transitional and fragile states, youth may turn to civil disobedience and violence. Therefore, the inclusion of The International Institute for youth in political processes is crucial to longer-term stability and peace. Democracy and Electoral Assistance Furthermore, youth engagement in formulating tomorrow’s politics is (International IDEA) is an crucial because inclusive participation is a fundamental political and democratic intergovernmental organization with right. However, actively promoting the inclusion of youth in political processes a mission to support sustainable is not only about norms, values and rights, but also about practical politics. democracy worldwide. Younger cohorts find themselves in a different situation and their political and www.idea.int socioeconomic priorities differ from those of their older counterparts. Having grown up in a period of transformation related to the increased use of information and communications technologies, young people bring new visions and ideas to the political sphere. They are, therefore, key democratic stakeholders, a sentiment expressed in the African Youth Charter: ‘Africa’s greatest resource is its © 2015 International IDEA youthful population and through their active and full participation, Africans can surmount the difficulties that lie ahead’ (African Union Commission 2006: 1). 1 The role of electoral National, regional and international management bodies in Box 1. South Africa interlocutors—including EMBs but promoting youth participation also other actors—should likewise In the run-up to the 2014 elections, Elections lie at the heart of democracy. tailor their programming strategies the Electoral Commission of South Adequate participation in electoral for increasing youth participation by Africa (IEC) launched the ‘IXSA’ processes is therefore an important considering youth as (a) voters, (b) (‘I Vote South Africa’) campaign way to secure youth’s inclusion in and electoral contestants and (c) electoral to encourage youth registration, contribution to the democratic process. administrators. These potential roles are participation and engagement. For decades, ensuring youth turnout explained in the following subsections. The campaign, which was was on election day has been a key focus for rolled out on television, radio and electoral management bodies (EMBs). Youth as voters the Internet, featured citizens However, there is a need to implement EMBs have traditionally focused on and celebrities discussing their more sophisticated multi-dimensional programmes and activities encouraging commitment to voting. The IEC approaches to engage with youth. youth to vote in elections. However, recruited a team of three social The tasks of an EMB include civic and voter education programmes media content creators to further determining voter eligibility; receiving also increase young people’s engage with youth on Facebook, and validating the nomination of commitment to democratic values and Mxit and Twitter. The number of electoral contestants (including political principles, their interest in political users who liked the Commission’s parties and candidates); conducting affairs and awareness of opportunities Facebook page increased from 1,400 the actual polling; and counting and to engage, and their knowledge of how to 10,000 during the first 24 hours tabulating the votes. In addition, EMBs elections work in practice. The use of of the campaign. Similarly, the may also engage in activities related language and images that appeal to the first 10 days brought about 16,000 to voter registration, civic and voter youth constituency has been central to new followers to the Commission’s education, and dispute resolution. In this line of work. Twitter account. By March 2015 this context, EMBs have either a formal Civic and education programmes the IEC had attracted 220,000 and or an informal mandate to promote implemented by EMBs can take several 70,000 followers to its Facebook youth participation (Interrnational forms. First, EMBs may work with and Twitter accounts, respectively. IDEA 2014a). ministries and authorities responsible Formally, international obligations for education to develop school and commitments or national curricula and materials on democracy legislation may entrust EMBs with and elections. In doing so, EMBs help a responsibility to ensure equal build a foundation for responsible, opportunities for participation in participatory and engaged citizenship electoral processes. Informally, such and awareness of citizen–state relations, commitments might bestow on EMBs roles and responsibilities. EMBs in an implicit role in removing existing some countries have also been involved barriers to effective youth participation. in the organization of ‘democracy EMBs’ strategies and policies may also weeks’ (e.g. in South Africa) and inter- outline key objectives, programmes school competitions whereby students and activities as well as stakeholder compete with their peers on their partnerships, or set out strategies for knowledge on democracy issues (e.g. in the promotion of youth participation. Botswana). In Zanzibar, for example, the EMB Second, the need to communicate adopted a Gender and Social Inclusion with youth on their own terms has Policy (Zanzibar Electoral Commission also led EMBs to engage with youth 2015) which targets women, youth on social media platforms. However, and people with disabilities. The EMBs need to be aware of issues policy focuses on equal opportunities related to their social media presence, in decision-making and staffing for example effective planning as well structures, and equal participation in as recruitment and training of expert the management of electoral processes. social media content developers (see It outlines the EMB’s commitment Box 1). Moreover, EMBs might need to equal access to voter registration to develop social media policies or processes, voter and civic education guidelines and monitor mechanisms to and election observation; and to the avoid postings that could compromise prevention and mitigation of election- their impartiality. related violence against women, youth Third, EMB voter education and people with disabilities. activities can address young people’s International IDEA Policy Brief, November 2015 2 motivation and preparedness to compliance with agreed frameworks. participate constructively in elections. Even where rules for youth inclusion Box 2. Nigeria This may involve working with civil are not in place, reports on candidate The Independent Electoral society and political parties (including lists reflecting age composition can Commission of Nigeria (INEC) their youth wings) to organize seminars increase transparency and make the has partnered with the National and voter education campaigns. In generational gap more visible. Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to Ghana, for example, the EMB has EMBs are often key partners support the recruitment of ad hoc worked closely with political parties, in electoral reform processes voter registration and polling station religious leaders and youth-focused (International IDEA 2014b). When workers. Young people under the civil society to provide workshops engaging in such activities, EMBs may age of 30 serve for one year under and seminars on the steps required to help ensure that the youth

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