Tonga youth vote 2.0
Take the Lead Re-launches its Tonga Youth Vote Handbook - Now Online and On the Move ahead of november’s general elections.
In 2020, Take the Lead (TTL), with support from the Electoral Commission’s Office, launched Tonga’s first-ever Youth Vote Handbook. The launch event featured the Kingdom’s youngest Member of Parliament, Lord Fakafanua, as the Guest of Honour, who spoke about the importance of such an initiative for empowering young voters.
“When young people are disengaged, disillusioned, or disenfranchised from the political processes, a significant portion of the population is excluded from decision making. They will have little to no influence on the laws and policies that shape their environment, local communities and their every day lives. This seriously impacts and undermines the ability of the Legislative Assembly to be truly representative of citizens and registered voters.”
Lord Fakafanua
The handbook was designed to help young and first-time voters understand everything they need to know about voting - from how elections work, to the roles of Tonga’s key governing bodies, and how to stay engaged after casting their vote.
This election year, TTL is bringing it back - revamped, digitized, and backed by outreach programmes across Tongatapu and the outer islands. The new edition makes voter education easier to access and more relevant to how young people learn and connect today.
"Being the first of its kind in Tonga, we learned a lot from our 2020 project," said Elizabeth V. Kite, Founder of Take the Lead. "We’ve updated it to better meet the needs of our youth, reaching them where they spend most of their time - online. We want to show youth that participating in this process is not only important, but also simple and a practical way to make their voices heard."
With the general elections approaching this November and rising concern among young people over issues such as Deep Sea Mining, Climate Change, illicit drugs, and limited job opportunities, Take the Lead is re-launching its initiative to empower young Tongans and first-time voters to understand the value of their voice, the power of their vote, and their role in shaping the nation’s future.
Tonga Youth Vote 2.0 is possible with thanks to the support of Australian Aid.
My Voice, My Vote Blog is a platform for YOU(th)!
If there’s something you’d like to share - what you want leaders to know, act on, or be reminded of - we’d love to hear from you.
Email us at taketheleadtonga@gmail.com or message us on Instagram @tongayouthvote.
We especially encourage and welcome contributions from young people living with disabilities - your voice matters.
