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

normative democratic theory, participation in e-voting is desirable to the extent that it helps to ensure equal consideration of the preferences and needs of the citizens, in this case the youth (Teorell, 2006). Understanding how young people use technology and reflect their use of traditional and new media into tailored communication strategies plays a central role for governments seeking to efficiently inform, communicate and engage with them . 3 3 https://www.oecd.org/mena/governance/Young-people-in-OG.pdf In some countries, the youth are apathetic, because participating in electoral activities, such as voter registration and voting requires the youth to travel vast distances between registration centers and where they were residents. This is cumbersome, based on the general economic challenges experienced by young people. Even in cases where the youth are keen to participate in electoral processes, they are disenfranchised by the long distance between their places of residency and the polling stations, as well as the discrepancies in the voters’ roll, where they do not find their names in the voters’ register. The proponents of internet voting make several arguments in favor of e-voting. First, internet voting may make it easier for voters to participate in elections, considering that every computer that has an online connection becomes a potential polling site. Internet voting also might lower the cost of voting for the entire electorate, and it has the potential to eliminate problems, such as those that might have kept millions of voters from participating in the 2000 presidential elections. That is, voters will no longer have to trudge down to a school, church, or community center in order to vote. What is more, factors like bad weather, long lines, or confusion over the location of polling places will no longer impede voter participation. In their study, Petitpas, et al (2021) find out that e-voting can increase voter turnout among abstainers and occasional voters, because of its convenience and flexible voting time for the electors. According to Staerkle (2015), political attitude determines individuals’ behavior during an election. For instance, it voting is concerned with the political thought and behavior of individuals within politically organized communities, that is, how they participate in decision making at individual and collective levels-through collective action. In most cases, they are influenced by public opinion and political elites. During our interviews with youths in the study area, some of them expressed their attitudes towards e-voting. They revealed that they can use e-voting should it become available and that they are willing to learn how to use the e-voting system. This suggests that e-voting can improve youth participation in elections. The above findings are confirmed by scholars, such as Gerlach and Gasser (2009), Unt et al. (2016) and Germann (2020, who argue that e-voting is supposed to appeal to the youth, for whom internet and social networks have become the main mode of communication and part of their life. To remedy on the reduced number of youths participating in voting processes, therefore, a 2017 study by Brookings revealed that Electric Voting Machines have led to: (i) a significant decline in electoral fraud; (ii) strengthening the weaker and vulnerable sections of the society; and (iii) a more competitive electoral process.” E-voting has largely solved these issues. The machines only register five votes each minute to combat virtual ballot stuffing. In this respect, marginalized groups are encouraged to vote, since their vote would not be counted by a biased and politically motivated person. More candidates have a better shot at being elected due to the higher representation of all voices. In Philippines, for instance, electronic voting serves as a model of success. After implementing e- voting through the British company Smartmatic, the country’s 2016 election brought 81% of the Philippines’ 100 million people to the polls in a record turnout. At the time, the election stood as the largest electronic vote- counting project in history. Aside from the high turnout, the election also broke a record for the fastest voting count. The e-voting machines immediately tracked and published the results online, as votes came in. The technology was also carefully surveyed pre- and during the election with the aid of more than 200,000 citizen volunteers to prevent crashes. Nigeria opted for e-voting in the 1990s, due to concerns that plague many African nations. It is among many countries in the continent that consistently report election violence, ballot stuffing, government- manipulated results and voter suppression, as pressing issues in elections. The country formed the Independent National Electoral Commission to integrate Electronic Voting Systems into their elections. The group plotted out polling locations across the country, and used a Geographic Information System technology to map out the country’s population density to more accurately monitor the votes coming in from all areas. While e- voting is still in its infancy in Nigeria, it has been considered a necessity and as the only solution for credible elections. Notice, however, that the initial installing of e-voting proved largely unsuccessful in Nigeria. Notwithstanding, technology is seen as a promising means to curb the overflow of political violence and issues rampant in the country’s elections in the future. a. Capacity Building As the children grow to become youth and then adults, introduction of civic and political education curriculum in the formal education system can be an © 2023 Global Journals Volume XXIII Issue II Version I 65 ( ) Global Journal of Human Social Science - Year 2023 C Can e-voting Improve Youth Voter Turnout?: Experiences from the Kenya 2022 General Elections