Young voices, significant influence: Lowering the voting age and young people’s readiness for voting

In recent years, there has been a notable shift in electoral policies worldwide, particularly regarding the lowering of the voting age from 21 to 18. In the context of readiness towards voting, the influence of parents, peers, and social media influencers on adolescents is crucial to consider. Research indicates that teenagers often adopt the political ideologies and attitudes of their parents, which can significantly shape their readiness and approach to voting. This paper thus, seeks to discover young voters’ attitudes towards voting and their readiness for the 15th general election (GE15) in Malaysia. Through a statistical analysis of attitudes and their readiness towards voting, the study uncovers the significant influence of this policy shift. This highlights the implication of young voters in shaping the future of democracy.