The Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) has launched a plan to increase the participation of younger people in formal democratic processes.
Electoral Commissioner, Warwick Gately said the Young People Inclusion Plan (YPIP) 2021-2023 represented the VEC’s commitment to supporting the voices of young people in the democratic system.
“The purpose of this YPIP is to support young people to be active citizens and exercise a life-long engagement with democracy,” Mr Gately said.
“The importance of this goal is highlighted by clear evidence of a steady decline in the participation of young people in formal electoral processes,” he said.
Mr Gately said that at the 2018 Victorian State election, voter turnout for enrolled 18 year olds was 90.36 per cent, but the figures showed a sharp decline in participation following that first voting experience, with only 85.79 per cent of 20 to 24 year olds and 83.7 per cent of 25 to 29 year olds voting.
The Commissioner said the Plan provided actions to improve VEC services, projects and programs, and strengthened the work it did with other Government bodies and non-Government organisations.
He said YPIP focused on four key areas: Access, information and services responsive to the needs of young people; Employment, staff recruitment, training and retention; Community, engagement, capacity building, collaboration and partnership; and Capability, building staff capability to be inclusive of the needs of young people.
“The YPIP also prescribes the actions, tools, capacities and knowledge that will enable VEC staff to create and deliver accessible services and information that are both inclusive of, and responsive to, the electoral needs of young people across Victoria,” he said.
“It will provide more opportunities for the VEC to collaborate with young people by establishing formalised consultation processes and employment pathways.”
Mr Gately said the YPIP would help VEC staff see engagement, enrolment and voting services from the perspectives of young people.
The VEC’s 19-page YPIP can be downloaded at this PS News link.
