Participation of youth in elections to state and local government agencies
Free and alternative elections have become an essential part of the political life of modern Kazakhstan. The basic law of our state - the Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 1995 - guarantees the ability to elect and be elected. Contemporary youth pursuing scientific and creative activities are active. Knowledge, experience, and practical skills are qualities a young professional should have, but no one should forget such important qualities of a citizen as legal literacy, political culture, strong civic position and responsibility. The legitimacy of the electoral process directly depends on the legal culture of voters. Raising awareness on their own role in managing State affairs requires a set of measures to educate citizens of an appropriate understanding and attitude towards elections, maintain a positive motivation to participate in forming the representative bodies, cultivate a responsible attitude among citizens to their political right to elect and be elected.
Youth participation in the electoral process is an indicator of the civil society’s maturity. The electoral activity of young voters is one of the socio-political indicators reflecting the degree and form of youth involvement in political life. Many political scientists identify young people as a social group with obvious political advantages: with their ideas, fresh thoughts, lack of stereotypes, education, energy, courage. The meetings of the participants of East Kazakhstan project “Improving electoral literacy of the population and involving social institutions in this process” with the students showed that young people themselves speak about the need to participate in political life in order to defend their interests, gain political experience, have the opportunity for personal growth and self-realization, join the State affairs. An important mechanism of socialization and development of the legal and political culture of young citizens is youth dignity-based parliamentary system. The educational aspect of youth parliamentary system is no less, and perhaps more important than the representation of young people’s rights and interests. Another form of political activity of young people in the state is the conscious participation of young people in elections providing a direct opportunity to influence the political situation in their state, region, city, village. That is why the improvement of legal literacy and political culture of young voters has been and remains one of the main directions of work of all public authorities and civil society institutions of Kazakhstan. Predicting this situation on December 20, 2019, at a meeting of the National Council of Public Trust (NCPC), the President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, proposed forming party lists for 30% of women and youth. In 2020, this initiative was legislatively enshrined in the Constitutional Law “On elections in the Republic of Kazakhstan”.
Within the framework of the project “Improving electoral literacy of the population and involving social institutions in this process” of Domestic Policy Administration of East Kazakhstan region, 6 workshops were held for participants of the electoral process. Students of colleges and universities of East Kazakhstan took part in the event “Electoral dictation”, where they tested their own knowledge in the Kazakhstan electoral legislation. It was memorable for young activists of East Kazakhstan region to hold a two-day workshop “The Youth for the Future” on the basics of the electoral process and electoral legislation of Kazakhstan. A great response was associated with holding the debate tournament among young people. As part of the project, a youth electoral “Level UP” was held in Ust-Kamenogorsk and Semey with the participation of representatives of East Kazakhstan Regional Election Commission, deputies of Maslikhats, political parties and public associations. It is important to note that all the activities of the project were legal scholars, psychologists of Sarsen Amanzholov East Kazakhstan University. The chief expert of the project was Doctor of Law, Associate Professor of Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure Department Rakhimberdin K.Kh. East Kazakhstan Regional Election Commission chaired by Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences, Professor E.A. Nabiyev provided invaluable support in implementing the project. Employees of Kazakhstan International Foundation for Legal Cooperation PF provided assistance in solving organizational and methodological issues for the implementation of the project.
The participants of the project “Improving electoral literacy of the population and involving social institutions in this process” believe that the students, as the most intellectually developed and progressive part of the youth, will actively participate both in public and political life in general, and in the work of electoral commissions of different levels. It is quite realistic to increase the youth component of election commissions, using the potential of higher and secondary specialized educational institutions. Today's student, having received a “run-in” at the elections, tomorrow will become a full-fledged participant of democratic processes, where the organization of the electoral process is of high importance.
For many project participants, the upcoming regular elections to the Mazhilis of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, as well as Maslikhats of all levels, will be the first step in implementing an active constitutional right to elections.
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