REASONS WE NEED YOUNG VOTERS MORE THAN EVER IN NIGERIA

Young voters notoriously neglect the importance of voting, but their voice is an important one on both sides of the aisle. Key issues in every election increasingly relate to the concerns of students and professionals between the ages of 18 and 29, making it essential for members within that age group to educate themselves on political issues and take to the polls.they were further divided along race, gender, and education lines when considering key issues from them candidates.


Why is it important to vote, especially if you fall within a crucial age demographic? Below are some of the most compelling reasons that young voters are needed more than ever in local, state, and national elections.

1. YOUNG VOTERS ACCOUNT FOR HALF OF THE VOTING POPULATION, MAKING THEM A POWERFUL POLITICAL FORCE.
The youth vote has the potential to be extremely influential in this country. Not all who can vote will, meaning that fewer young people get to directly influence issues that might affect their lives for years to come, including college tuition reform and federal job programs.


2. YET OLDER PEOPLE  ARE MORE LIKELY TO VOTE.
While young people make up a large portion the voting-eligible population, they're much less likely than those who are older to get out and vote. In 2015, only 19% of people aged 18-29 cast their ballot in the presidential election; at 49%, 45-64-year-olds accounted for the largest electorate.

Some reports have attributed the outcome of the election to a "missed opportunity" on the part of millennials to affect change en masse: while the majority of young voters actually cast, their low turnout was not enough to counter the ballots of older voters. For this, let us  increasingly interested in methods of successfully mobilizing young voter.


3. EVERY VOTE COUNTS.
Many young people cite feeling as though their vote doesn't count as their reason for not participating in elections. Every vote counts, especially those from one of the country's largest voting groups. proving your vote does matter, maybe more than you realize.


4. YOUNG PEOPLE WERE HIT HARDEST BY THE GREAT RECESSION.
College debt and a lack of jobs dealt some of the most crippling blows to the financial futures of many young voters after the Great Recession in the late-2000s. Though unemployment rates have declined and millennials have found their footing in a new economy, policy change and reform in areas affecting college students, such as debt forgiveness and healthcare, are as crucial now as they were in the 2008 election.

The situation won't be changed by sitting idle while others make major political decisions. Youth voters who want to inspire change need to show their support for the candidates whom they feel best represent their needs. No one else is going to vote in the interest of young people except young people.


5. YOUNG VOTERS ARE AN INCREDIBLY DIVERSE GROUP.
The divisive nature of partisan politics is alive and well among young voters in today's world. So much so that the millennial electorate is expected to be the first demographic group with the ability to challenge the basic two-party system, potentially driving the need for alternative political parties whom millennials feel can represent the needs of a diverse population through a more inclusive agenda.


6. YOUNG PEOPLE NEED TO CONNECT WITH POLITICS EARLY ON.
Participating in politics is a hard-won right in our nation. Some experts argue that young Nigeria's with such potential for affecting political change don't exercise the right to vote as often as they should.  Building a relationship with the political process as early as possible is key to making voting a lifelong habit: you may already be familiar with the phrase, "Vote early, vote often." If you're historically a repeat voter, you're much less likely to skip a trip to the polls in the future. This sort of habit-forming participation is key to driving policy and electing leaders who represent the needs of voters of all ages.


7. IT'S EASIER THAN EVER TO BE AN EDUCATED VOTER.
In today's tech-savvy world, there is no excuse not to vote because you don't know enough about the candidates. In fact, one might find it harder to escape day-to-day political news than subscribe to it. In an era in which Twitter is preferred means of communication for the Politician, Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat have become as crucial as the candidates' own websites for disseminating information about relevant issues. As this type of civic education in everything is typical for most Nigeria's today, it isn't just beneficial in the months leading up the election but also on a day-to-day basis. The current online climate allows young voters to form a fuller picture of the candidates and their platforms in a medium they're familiar with.


8. THE YOUTH VOTE CAN SWAY THE ELECTION.
As mentioned before, your vote does matter, so much so that the collective "youth vote"


9. YOU MAY NOT CARE NOW, BUT YOU MIGHT IN FOUR YEARS.
You may feel that choosing a president or a senator just isn't something that affects your life right now. You might not yet be struggling with issues like college debt or finding a full-time job. For many millennials, adulthood brings many new challenges, like college, marriage, buying a house, paying for your own health insurance, and/or starting a business, all of which could radically change your perspective on political issues. While you can't predict who or where you'll be in four years, you can be sure that the political officials elected into office and the policies they implement will impact your life in the coming months and years. Why not have a say? Speak up, make a choice, and take part in the election to protect your interests in your first few year in the real world.

HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED AND VOTE

No matter your age or voting history, the first step in getting involved should be to check your voter status; research how to register to vote in your state if you’re not. If you are already registered in your state but have recently moved, you will need to update your address in order to provide current registration at your local polling place on election day.

Let mobilized our young one to be part of politics.