According to data from the Central Election Commission of Bosnia and Herzegovina (CIK of BiH), the local election turnout has declined by 17% over the past 24 years. People attribute low voter turnouts to various reasons, but young people, in particular, face criticism for their perceived lack of interest in social and political issues. Nevertheless, year after year, young people demonstrate that they both vote and run for office.
While overall voter turnout is at an all-time low, there are encouraging trends among young people.
This data indicates that young people are nearly as engaged as older voters despite frequent criticisms aimed at them. Young people are showing that they are not indifferent to the future of their communities, and are willing to contribute to shaping policies that directly affect their lives. However, they need support. The role of society, educational institutions, and political organizations is essential in offering opportunities for the inclusion, access to information, and guidance of young people towards responsible voting and political participation.
It is especially important to help young people identify their peers on electoral rolls—individuals who truly understand their needs, challenges, and aspirations. This not only strengthens young people’s trust in political processes but also fosters the development of policies that directly impact their daily lives. Giving young people opportunities to elect their peers is a crucial step toward creating a more inclusive and sustainable society.
The Institute for Youth Development KULT leads initiatives to engage and motivate young people to actively participate in democratic processes. The Institute regularly hosts the “Learn, Think and Act!” training program for young political leaders (UMiDp), which has been attended by over 60 young politicians. All participants were under 30 during the training and they come from over 15 different political parties from across Bosnia and Herzegovina. Across five cycles, these young leaders have been empowered to actively shape the policies that impact their lives.
Although the number of young candidates in the elections has decreased from 7,398 in 2020 to 5,580 in 2024, their impact has grown. In the 2020 elections, 425 young candidates were elected, making up 5.75% of the total number of candidates. In 2024, this number decreased to 340 candidates (6.09%), with 17 seats going to alumni of the UMiDp training. This reflects the growing impact of our efforts to support and educate young politicians. This trend shows that young candidates are becoming better at navigating politics and elections, while voters are increasingly supportive of them.
All of these seats will be held by young people in municipal and city councils or municipal assemblies, and it is also important to note the five young people who ran for mayor. Unfortunately, none of the young candidates running for mayor in 2024 were elected. This highlights the need to further empower young people so they can successfully compete for executive positions in future elections.
The ratio of young women to men on electoral rolls is also noteworthy. According to data from the Central Election Commission of Bosnia and Herzegovina, young women made up 11.75% of candidates, while young men accounted for 9.63%, which is a difference of approximately 2%. However, young men secured about 3% more seats than young women.
The data suggests that the selection process did not reflect the proportional representation of young women and men among all candidates. In other words, although there were more women on the electoral rolls, men ultimately won more seats. This disparity may stem from social norms, underdeveloped informal networks for women, and fewer opportunities for young women in politics. This challenge is not unique to Bosnia and Herzegovina, but it highlights the need to change social norms, raise awareness about the importance of gender equality, and encourage women to engage in areas where they are traditionally underrepresented, such as politics.
In summary, young people in Bosnia and Herzegovina are demonstrating a growing willingness to engage in politics, but they require ongoing support, information, and education. Programs like UMiDp play a crucial role in empowering new generations of politicians, and their success speaks to the importance of investing in the education and mentoring of our young leaders. Only through collective efforts can we ensure that young people take their rightful place in the political life of the country.
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