Why Is the Turnout of Young People So Low in Georgian Elections?

Abstract

The paper analyzes the different factors contributing to the generational gap between younger and older voters in Georgia. It shows that the lack of awareness and interest in political and specifically in electoral processes among young people largely explains this phenomenon. At the same time, several institutional factors, such as electoral campaign salience and specific legislation, also contribute to the low levels of youth participation in elections. Finally, the article proposes several practical steps, including the introduction of online and/or electronic voting and the emphasis of youth-related issues in electoral campaigns, that could help to increase the turnout of young voters in Georgia.