How to encourage the youth, including first-time voters, to participate more actively in electoral cycles and especially in the upcoming elections for the office of the President of the Republic of Moldova this autumn was debated by students from universities and high schools, Centre for Continuous Electoral Training (Training Centre), the Council of Europe consultant and a representative of the Council of Europe during an online webinar on 7 September 2020.
Representatives of the Training Centre presented several election-related videos to get feedback from the young folks and benefit from the Council of Europe expertise. Many suggestions and comments were made inclusive based on the provisions and techniques set out in the Council of Europe toolkit on Awareness Raising with Young Voters. The toolkit was developed by the Electoral Assistance and Civil Society Division of the Council of Europe in cooperation with People Dialog for Change Company and encompasses best European practice on the youth involvement into electoral exercise.
The Council of Europe consultant, who participated in development of the toolkit, proposed to use accessible slogans, simple graphics and social media/platforms well-known to young people in the Republic of Moldova to get the message across to them and raise their awareness about importance of their vote in general, and participating in public life through decision-making instruments, particularly. Participants at the webinar mentioned the importance to bring up the electoral culture with schools’ youth councils as first step in civil electoral education of the future voters.
Participants welcomed the possibility offered by the Council of Europe to benefit from the Council of Europe expertise in this area and exchange of views, as well as agreed to hold the next webinar in one week.
To facilitate the use of the toolkit On Awareness Raising with Young Voters Council of Europe is translating the toolkit from English into the state language of the Republic of Moldova and will made be available for all interested persons soon.
The activity is implemented by the Council of Europe within the on-going project “Improving electoral practice in the Republic of Moldova”.
