‘Welcome’ to all 16-year-olds and 16-year-olds-to-be to the electorate. It is truly something to celebrate, because participation in society is a noble act. As Barack Obama once said: “Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.”
No political party would ever think of discussing at length or challenging the way this right will be introduced, because it would be misinterpreted as dragging its feet or not agreeing. It is especially for this biased reasoning that I would like to comment on this highly precious right being given to local youth.
I should say it is very sad that we are welcoming new voters in the present political environment. It is sad that we won’t discuss such a topic or other vote-challenging topics maturely, precisely because of our partisan divide. Such an important move for our country and for the electorate can be a great opportunity for reflection and revamping our political scene.
We all know about the situation in institutions such as the junior college, Mcast and the university, where partisan politics reaches ridiculous heights.
Obviously, the priority for parties in such institutions is to ‘catch them young’. Party ‘brainwashing’ starts young in our families. It’s sad that parties make sure to do the same in such institutions at all costs, whether it’s holding parties for a very young audience or giving freebies or other ‘gifts’ to buy votes.
I challenge the parties to retreat from such institutions and support creative spaces where politics is practised without any attachment to anyone in particular, in a country where partisan ties are so important. Spaces should be created where ideas can be truly challenged and proposals brought forward for the greater good and not for the good of the ‘greatest’.
It is very encouraging to hear that discussions have started with the Ministry of Education to introduce political education in schools. The sad part is that this promise was first heard legislatures ago. So what was being done all these years? Obviously, the priorities of the partisan community are, again, not to have good politics but to have voters caught young.
Why not prepare a generation of young voters as a priority, then introduce them to voting after a bit of a culture change?
No preparation will ever produce the ideal voter, but let us truly invest in education if we really look for social justice and for the common good.
Am I against this proposal? No. Maybe I don’t want it to be introduced now? Well that isn’t up for discussion. What I would like to emphasise is that we should really ensure our political climate to be a healthy one, for the benefit of young and old alike.
It is impressive how, across the board, this move is being hailed as a ‘right’ for young voters and few speak of responsibilities. It seems that the only responsibility we can speak of in the current political scene, is that 16-year-olds should now be entitled to contest the election. Such is the political climate that we only speak of entitlement rather than rights as voters… no wonder so many allegations of corruption.
Let us truly invest in education if we really look for social justice and for the common good
A right to vote is not simply marking a paper every five years but, more importantly, speaking and participating actively as a citizen for the common good.
Are we ensuring the right environment prevails for our young voters to do so?
Though political discourse depicts a country prepared for this move, surveys have shown many don’t agree, including young voters themselves. We haven’t even had time to put it to the test at local council level. Again, the priorities are quite clear.
On a different note, a recent study (Sawyer, Azzopardi et al) suggested that the actual age of adolescence is 10-24. How is this being taken into consideration? How can we truly empower young people to live through this important phase in their life?
Are the services we’re offering empowering them enough? Should we invest more in adolescence as a country?
Can the opportunity to vote be also an opportunity to revamp our services?
Today’s adults must recognise that introducing such a right and responsibility puts responsibilities on them too.
We are being called to welcome young people, believing in their full potential and ensuring a country where the right to vote, and all related rights and responsibilities, are ensured.
Let us stand up to this opportunity. Let us be a nation that doesn’t slip into a comfortable mode. Let’s instead be an active community, fighting for what is true, good and beautiful.
I conclude with Pope Francis’s words in Chile: “… maturity means carrying on with your dreams, together, sharing ideas, not letting your guard down, not selling your aspirations… you are restless; you are seekers and idealists.
“Do you know who has problems? The problem we adults have is that, when we hear about those ideals, when we hear about these worries of the youth, like know-it-alls, we say: ‘They think that way because they are young; they still have to grow up,’ or worse, ‘They’ll be corrupted.’ ”
Anthony Mifsud is active in youth ministry.
tonimifsud@yahoo.com