Youths Perception of Voters’ Education and Voting in Ekiti State

ABSTRACTYouth involvement in voting is highly significant and indispensable in democratic governance. Thus, youth perception of towards voters’ education is significantly instrumental to youth participation in politics and voting. The study therefore investigates youths' perception towards voter education and voting in Ekiti State. The study adopted a description research design (survey method). The study made use of social cognitive theory as its theoretical framework. The population comprised all youths in Ekiti State. The sample was made up of 100 youths across selected local government in Ekiti State who were selected using simple random sampling procedure. A self- designed questionnaire titled youths' perception towards voter education and voting in Ekiti State was used for data collection. The face and content of the instrument were carried out through experts. Data collection was analysed using descriptive and frequency distribution. The findings of study revealed youth perception of voters’ education has significant impact on youth involvement in voting process in Ekiti State. The study discovered that there are challenges facing youth involvement in voting Ekiti including violence, political apathy, unemployment and poverty, lack of thrust in the electoral commission among others. The study therefore recommended that Government should organize voter educational programme in the media, such as radio, television and newspaper to educate youths who have not got the opportunity to be involved in the voter education programme on voting exercise. Also, the study recommended that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should organize conferences and workshops to educate youths on voter education and on their rights towards voting.