Shabiu: Without concrete answers to economic and social problems, youth turnout will be low

Activist from Pristina Marigona Shabiu warned that many young people will not respond to the call to vote on 28 December without credible informational outreach, clear communication about why these elections matter, and concrete answers from parties on economic and social issues. She emphasizes that this age group is generally disappointed with politics and does not believe that elections will change their living conditions.

Shabiu told Kosovo Online that first-time voters, as well as other young people across Kosovo, see unemployment, low wages, corruption and nepotism as the biggest problems, which is why reforms in several areas are necessary.

“Those voting for the first time and young people across Kosovo increasingly tell researchers that their most urgent concerns are tangible and tied to everyday issues: access to decent jobs, quality education, reliable healthcare, and opportunities to stay in Kosovo instead of feeling forced to emigrate. Many young people see unemployment, low wages, corruption and nepotism as key obstacles to their future, which means that economic reforms, transparency and social services are at the top of their political priorities. Surveys and media interviews from 2024 and 2025 suggest that a significant portion of this group leans toward parties that promise real change on these issues, especially those with anti-corruption platforms and narratives about social mobility”, she said.

The activist added that greater mobilization is possible, but remains cautious on this point, since turnout among young voters in the February 2025 elections was overall moderate, which suggests that significant challenges remain.

She notes that, in order for young people to turn out in large numbers, credible informational work will be needed, clear communication about why these elections are important, and parties that offer concrete answers to the economic and social problems of youth. Otherwise, many young people will abstain.

“Common reasons for youth abstention include disappointment with politics, lack of trust in institutions, belief that voting does not change their living conditions, poor information about how or where to vote, complicated logistics, work or study obligations, transport, and general apathy and election fatigue, with three election cycles already taking place this year, especially if campaigns seem unconvincing or repetitive. Observers of the 2025 process noted practical problems – at many polling stations voters had difficulty finding their names or the correct polling centers, which further discouraged participation”, Shabiu said.

She stated that she expects significant variations among youth, with differing priorities and candidate choices between young people with higher and secondary education, those from cities and those from rural areas, as well as differences between men and women.

“Young people with higher education tend to be more engaged, better informed about political debates and more attentive to issues such as governance, rule of law and institutional reforms, which could influence more politically conscious voting. On the other hand, young people without higher education often prioritize immediate economic needs – jobs, wages, stability – and may respond more to promises of economic relief or employment opportunities, which sometimes makes them more vulnerable to clientelist or localized political appeals”, she concluded.

She emphasized that gender also plays an important role and that previous reports show women are less represented among campaign participants, and that they face structural barriers that may reduce their turnout.

“Young women often face structural barriers – less outreach, traditional expectations, less campaign space addressing their issues, which can reduce their turnout unless political actors specifically engage them on matters such as education, healthcare or access to opportunities. Reports from the 2025 campaign show that women were underrepresented among campaign participants”, she said.

Differences between urban youth and youth from rural areas are significant, Shabiu says, adding that young people from urban areas more often have greater access to information and vote in higher numbers, while the interests and problems of rural youth are mostly localized.

“Finally, differences between rural and urban areas are likely significant. Urban youth are generally better connected to information, media and civil society networks, which makes them more aware of their electoral choices and more likely to turn out and vote. Rural youth often face practical barriers – transport, fewer polling stations, less targeted outreach – and their concerns may be more localized, which can affect how and whether they vote at all”, the activist said.