Young people in Japan tend to have low voter turnout, which is a clear fact. Since the voting age was lowered to 18, there have been six national elections, but the turnout for people in their teens and twenties has never exceeded the overall rate. With the upcoming election falling in the middle of a three-day weekend, it’s expected to be even lower. To understand what young people think about elections, a reporter spoke to high school girls in Tokyo.
Three high school girls were asked if they would vote. Two of them, who are 18, said they would, but it wasn’t entirely their own decision. One girl mentioned that their school frequently told them to vote, and teachers were keen on election education, giving assignments to research local election candidates. Despite this, she found it hard to engage due to a lack of personal connection to political issues.
However, after using a “vote match” tool in class to align with candidates, she grew interested in an income tax issue, which influenced her decision to vote. She started understanding the importance of taxes, especially since she works part-time.
While election education is being implemented in most schools, girls felt overwhelmed by the large number of candidates. Finding relevant information was challenging, especially since many candidates are running. The rise in candidates across elections makes thorough research increasingly demanding.
Despite understanding the importance of voting, these young people still found it difficult to actively engage in elections. While “participation in elections” is often touted as crucial for democracy, increasing young voter turnout remains complex. Educators and families need to find ways to make social issues feel personally relevant to students to encourage voting.
by MagazineKey4532