News
Young, first time voters cast cynical eye at political promises
View(s):By Nathara Abeywickrema
An estimated 200,000 first-time voters will be casting their votes in the upcoming presidential election, according to the Election Commission.
The new electoral register that will be used for the next presidential election will be available by next month, a spokesman of the Election Commission said.
A cross section of youth who are first time voters interviewed by the Sunday Times expressed mixed reactions, with some of them lacking optimism regarding politics.
Disenchanted with politicians: Nothing will change says Udara Neranjan from Polonnaruwa. Pix by M.A. Pushpa Kumara
Most believe that politicians do not often focus on the needs of young people when making decisions.
Udara Neranjan from Polonnaruwa who is an A-Level student in the biological science stream, is not interested in voting and said it is highly improbable that anyone will alter the existing situation.
He said a party’s past will undoubtedly influence its present and the level of public faith in it.
Prioritising the state’s educational system and developing self-discipline are vital for the betterment of the nation, he believes. “The nation frequently gets funding to import trains and buses to improve public transport, but the sector has never experienced an improvement,” Udara said.
He doubts that much will change in the next five to 10 years, despite assurances of politicians that they are striving to transform the nation.
Upeksha Swarnamali
Being an undergraduate of a private university, pursuing a bachelor in science in information and communication technology, Chamitha Jayathilake from Kelaniya, said he was even less interested in the nation’s political establishment.
The majority of politicians only make a ton of promises before an election and, after they win, forget why they ran in the first place. This issue has been in the system for a very long time; it did not just appear today or yesterday, said Chamitha.
Chamitha Jayathilake
“Any political figure who wants to gain the trust of the public must grasp their mandate and demonstrate a beneficial national impact; something that young people rarely witness.”
“Since the majority of young people feel that their future is uncertain, they look abroad for employment opportunities. This is my predicament, and I have no intention of staying because I know that even if I were to get employment here, I would not be able to support my parents and siblings,” Chamitha said.
I. Abdullah and M. Razaullah of the Mattakkuliya area, two A-Level students in the ICT stream who have sat for the exam last month, voiced concerns how most political figures make lousy examples of leadership.
M. Razaullah
They said that even though students have capabilities, the government’s support for them to make the most out of them is inadequate.
Abdullah and Razaullah both suggested that rather than continuing with regular, traditional job chances, the government should consider offering in-demand education and employment opportunities that are in line with international standards.
Dasuni Madhubashini
Both expressed an equal disinterest in continuing their education domestically and thought that studying overseas would provide a well-rounded education.
Mathugama area resident, Upeksha Swarnamali, a first year undergraduate of the University of Kelaniya pursuing a bachelor of management in human resources, talked with aversion on how most politicians serve themselves rather than society.
Dasuni Madhubashini from Matara and Kasuni Madhumali from Kalutara who follow the same degree programme in the same university, are unsure about whom to support and are uncertain about going to vote.
Sanuka Mintharu from Gampaha, Senura Eshan from Tangalle and S.E. Dilshan from Kottawa who are undergraduates of the University of Kelaniya faculty of management, noted how the administrative service working for politicians is also partly responsible for the downturn of the nation’s economy. They also said the nation has come to a point where the future of its youth would remain unstable for years.
200,000 first-time voters will cast their votes in the presidential election (file pic by Eshan Fernando
They are all in the group of uncertain youth over casting a vote.
As another first-time voter, R. Maria from Mattakkuliya is excited about voting and would follow her family’s decision.
Lamya Fazil, who is also from the Mattakkuliya area, said that if she frequently uses social media she would side with the political party with considerable influence.
Both reflected how young people seem more disillusioned with democracy and the political process than ever before.
Here, it has been observed that voters often turn to the media in making decisions. It demonstrates how vote choice certainty can be raised and explores whether exposing voters to political information from a variety of media outlets could improve their comprehension of the facts.
However in the context of digital media, the effects may not always be consistent. Yet, voter certainty is higher among first-time voters more exposed to social media.
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