Calling on All Registered Youth to Participating in General Elections
Belizeans will vote on November eleventh to elect a new government. Both political parties are now engaged in mass campaigning to get the vote out during the pandemic. Historically young voters are not excited about elections though there is a lot at stake for them. So a campaign is now ongoing to get youths to engage in the process. It is called Youth Votes Matter which was launched today. Here is Hipolito Novelo.
Hipolito Novelo, Reporting
They say every vote matters and that’s true. But does this upcoming election matter enough for you for you to cast your vote? While political parties continue their campaign to sway voters to the polls, there is a campaign that is focusing on the youths of Belize.
Bryton Codd, Media Rep., Youth Votes Matter Campaign
“The initiative originally started in Trinidad and Tobago and they followed their general elections, young people in particular. It then moved to Jamaica and now the campaign is in Belize.”
Bryton Codd
The Youth Votes Matter campaign is brining a group of youth development advocates who will reach out to young registered voters.
Bryton Codd
“Essentially the initiative is one that gears towards broadening the understanding on the part of the young people and in terms of understanding the political landscape within our country It is essentially bringing young people to the table of discussion as it regards the development of policies and what that entails.”
The campaign will entail discussing topics such as political participating, crime and violence, and youth development. The campaign’s objective is to see at least a three percent increase in youth voter turnout in the upcoming general elections. But is there a satisfying level of interest on the part of young voters to, not only allow the campaign to run its course but allow the campaign to achieve its three percent aim?
Hipolito Novelo
“While every vote matters and it’s a right, would it be a fair comment to say that young people don’t care?”
Bryton Codd
“I think there has been a level of disengagement indeed on the part of young people and that is one of the aims of this initiative, to reinvigorate that passion in young people to be a part of that political process. We recognize that young people make up sixty percent of the population as well as a significant chunk of the electors population and as such we need to inform young people adequately about the political landscape to ensure that they are reaching the voting poll and they are casting their votes.”
The campaign is a collaborative work between the Commonwealth Youth Council, Caribbean Regional Youth Council, The National Students’ Union of Belize, the Department of Youth Services and BK Sports. The campaign will officially be launched tonight, virtually. Reporting for News Five, I am Hipolito Novelo.
