Why Aren’t Youths Showing Up To Vote?

The data from polling stations across the country from Wednesday reveals that voter turnout among the youth demographic was significantly low. Prime Minister Briceño was asked if the figures are a sign that youths are disenchanted with both major political parties and are not buying into their ideals. He responded by saying that the voter turnout among youths has consistently been low. 

 

Prime Minister John Briceño

“Let me put it this way that has always been the case. All the time, because young people in many instances they are not thinking about a mortgage or what we are doing. They are concentrated in school work, their social life or concentrated in getting settled in their work. That has been not only in Belize but all over the world. It takes time for young people to really start to get engaged. Even my sons who live in apolitical family, they go to vote and support the PUP, of course they support me, but they would not be keen in discussing what government is doing unless there is something to say ok well hey dad is this true. That is normal everywhere, when you see the numbers start to go up, when you see they hit thirty and above you see people start to become more concerned about the government, because now they have a family, they have to make sure their children could go to school, make sure we have hospitals, they can get scholarships, that they could get a decent jobs, making sure the government is not wasting their money, increasing taxes, these are the things that happen as we become and adult and that is normal everywhere. Orange Walk Town had one of the highest; almost sixty four percent of people turnout, but the point is that our people came out to vote. It is the opposition; their supporters are disheartened they do not like what they are seeing in their party so they chose not to come out. If they do not want to come out that is not my problem, t hat is their problem. My challenge is to ensure that our people come out and vote and our people came out in record numbers to support the PUP government.”