Global Journal of Human Social Science, C: Sociology and Culture, Volume 23 Issue 2

voter registration system. However, the youth remain skeptical about its credibility and generally ignorant about registration requirements and the period for the same. They were also not well informed about the electoral process, including why they have to vote, the difference between ward-based and polling station- based voting and which of the two could be used for the 2018 elections. Youth participation, not only as voters, but also as contestants and electoral officials is a fulfilment of their civic role in the governance processes. The Afrobarometer (2016) survey across 36 African countries noted that 78% of the youth believe in the civic responsibility of voting. Therefore, their participation cannot and should not be a subject of debate, but a certain and obvious reality. Despite making up more than half of the population in many countries, young people aged 18-35 often find themselves marginalized from mainstream politics and decision making. They also struggle to gain the respect of public officials and are seen as lacking the skills and experience to engage in political activity and lead positive change in their communities 2 II. S tatement of the P roblem . This exclusion, combined with limited educational and economic opportunities, can leave young people both idle and frustrated with the status quo. Moreover, today’s youth need real oppor tu nities to participate in political processes and contribute to practical solutions that advance development. When given an opportunity to organize, voice their opinions, and play a meaningful role in political decision-making, young people consistently demonstrate their willingness and ability to foster positive, lasting change. They also become more likely to demand and defend democracy and gain a greater sense of belonging. Access is a key pillar for youth participation in political and electoral processes. However, the youth face barriers that interfere with the access to their civil rights. There is, therefore, the need to create innovative means to break the barriers. This paper focuses on capacity development for the youths to map out barriers to their participation in general election processes. One of the most important issues facing the youth of the world is their participation in the democratic institutions that govern every aspect of their lives. There is an unfair derogatory criticism from older generations that the youth are somehow ‘not interested’ in participating in democratic processes. Countries over the world are opting for e-voting to lower the costs of 2 https://www.ndi.org/what-we-do/ndi-youth voting, improve electoral transparency and efficiency, and to improve overall voter participation, especially among the youth who are skeptical on manual voting. Despite this understanding, there is little evidence to show whether e-voting can influence the majority of the youth aged 18-35, to vote during general elections. We argue that voters’ participation is important to sustain the country’s democracy and e-voting adoption could be a key consideration for a young democracy like Kenya. III. T heoretical F ramework Roger Hart (1992) offers one of the best explanations of the rationale for youth participation: youth participation is a fundamental right to citizenship. Hart developed a tiered “rungs” model, in which he defines the degrees of participation. This model draws heavily from Hart’s model above, but does not seek to replace it. Instead, it serves as an additional tool for practitioners, in terms of helping them to explore different aspects of the participation process. Shier’s approach offers a participatory progression that effectively functions as a scaffolding guide for educators and other adults working with the youth. Underpinning youth participation in voting processes during elections implies that there is a belief that the youth are a diverse group, who hold unique beliefs and experiences. Using this model, it applies a positive youth development approach to empower their agency, enhance skillsets and foster engagement between young people and political and civil actors, systems and processes. It proposes the engagement of the youth, as active participants in the electoral process. IV. M ethodology Using Roger Hart (1992) conceptual model on level of participation, and Normative Democracy theory, the authors used a critical review of existing literature, interviews, and observations for the just concluded 2022 Kenya’s general elections. In this paper, we innovate by shedding light on whether e-voting can be the best voting channel for the youth. We take advantage of a unique collection of individuals who participated in the Kenya 2022 August general elections from Uasin Gishu and Kisii Counties respectively. Document analysis and interviews were done and the findings are presented in the inform of narratives and excerpts. V. F indings and D iscussion a) Civic Education through Mass Media i Registration as Voters In most countries, registration is a prerequisite for voting. Non-voters can be divided into two groups: those who are registered but abstain, and those who do not appear on the voters’ list. © 2023 Global Journals Volume XXIII Issue II Version I 63 ( ) Global Journal of Human Social Science - Year 2023 C Can e-voting Improve Youth Voter Turnout?: Experiences from the Kenya 2022 General Elections