The Electoral Supreme Court (TSE) registered this February the lowest number in history of teenagers between 16 and 17 years old with an electoral card. Only about 830.000 of them already had their cards in hand, whereas in 2018 more than 1,4 million of them were ready to vote.
According to the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), there are more than 6 million people between the ages of 16 and 17 in Brazil. That means that only 13,6% of people who are able to vote had their cards.
Considering that the time period to make the electoral card for the elections in October ends in May 4th, there is an urgency to all the teenagers of that age: they need to regularize their situation as fast as possible and, beyond that, develop an interest in politics, in order to a fairer election and democracy become possible.
Disbelief
There is a reason behind the low accession: disbelief. In democracy, in the candidates and in the future. According to the research made by Instituto Ideia Big Data, half of the population between the ages of 18 and 24 can’t see democracy as an absolute value. Besides, 37% said that they hardly trust or just don’t trust at all the electronic ballot system.
Outdated language
According to a research made by O Globo, the generations who were born in the internet era are used to a more dynamic language and communication, and most of the parties don’t know how to communicate with them. Their political propaganda is seen as boring and out of date. Therefore, it is necessary that candidates adapt themselves to the way the world functions now.
In this race against time, since February, artists well known around the country — and internationally — began to use their social media to encourage the younger generations to participate actively in the elections this year. Anitta, Juliette, Zeca Pagodinho, Whindersson Nunes, Luíza Sonza and even the American actor Mark Ruffalo were some of the names that participated in the campaign and it worked. The number of teenagers with their electoral cards broke the record: according to the TSE, Brazil registered 1.144.481 new voters between 15 and 18 years old.
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The article above was edited by Milena Casaca.
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