Are young people becoming more mature in voting?

Following the recent Negeri Sembilan state election, an observation of young voters has raised questions about their maturity in making electoral decisions. During campaign events, many political leaders and social media influencers engaged with voters, including the youth, to gauge their support for various contesting parties.

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The answers given by some of them showed that they are not mature enough to vote.

However, interviews with some young voters revealed a concerning lack of informed decision-making. When asked about their reasons for supporting a particular party, some admitted they were merely following their friends' choices. Others appeared confused and unable to articulate any justification for their political allegiance, despite being able to clearly state the name of the party they supported.

This observation leads to the conclusion that a segment of today's youth makes voting decisions without adequate research or consideration. If this pattern persists, the effectiveness of the Undi18 initiative, which lowered the voting age to 18, is questionable. It suggests that some young people are not taking the responsibility of choosing the nation's future leaders seriously.

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Some of them said they just followed the parties supported by their friends, while others were confused and unable to answer why they chose that party.

Therefore, it is crucial for the youth to mature and become more discerning in their decision-making, especially given that information is readily accessible at their fingertips. Making informed choices is vital, as selecting the right leaders will have a significant impact on the country's future, affecting them directly.

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If this situation continues, there is no point in Undi18 being passed because some of the youth today are still taking lightly the matter of determining the government that will lead the country in the future.