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Youth Voting Builds Culture of Participation, Freedom Democracy Dialogues online discussion focuses on young voters By Carolee Walker Washington File Staff Writer Washington -- A culture of democracy starts at school where young people can vote in their own organizations and on their sports teams, said Ahmed Younis, a lawyer and public advocacy specialist, in a Democracy Dialogues webchat July 27. Democracy is about being an active participant in society and having a say in your community, he said, adding that voting symbolizes a person’s voice in a larger conversation. “It is important for young people to be heard because they offer a fresh and honest perspective on issues.” “You can be democratic at 7 or 9 or 18 years old, just as you can be at 40,” he said. In the United States, there is no law obligating an eligible person to vote. In the U.S. 2004 presidential election, 47 percent of 18- to 24-year-olds voted, Younis said. These younger voters make up 14.4 percent of the total eligible voters in the United States. There are opportunities for young people to be involved in voting without actually going to the polls. Pairing participatory democracy with music performances and sporting events, for example, is a way to draw their interest, according to Younis, who said adult elected officials often rely on community leaders who have the ear of young people. In the United States, young people affect politics and policy making through their writings, rallies and art, he said. Building a culture of participation and freedom within a diverse community should be a part of day-to-day life, Younis suggested. In addition to voting in their schools and organizations, young people should be encouraged to read newspapers and stay informed. The Internet has opened up the world of education and increased participation of young people in all avenues of life, he said. Focusing on youth participation might pay off globally, Younis suggested. He pointed out that many countries are populated primarily by young people. Younis is the national director of the Muslim Public Affairs Council, a public advocacy organization working toward the integration of American Muslims into American political and civic life. He is the author of American Muslims: Voir Dire (Speak the Truth), a post-September 11, 2001, analysis of American Muslim identity. Democracy Dialogues is a global conversation addressing democratic governance through interactive public forums, readings, videos, photos and historical documents, with a new topic introduced every two months. A transcript of Younis’s discussion and information on upcoming webchats are available on USINFO’s Webchat Station. For information on the basics of democratic governance, see Principles of Democracy.