Under-21s embrace polls despite not being able to vote

Beirut: Although Lebanon's citizens under 21 years of age will not be heading to the polls to vote tomorrow, their participation in the parliamentary elections has not been insignificant.

They have contributed to media campaigns, on-the-ground mobilisation or, alternatively, called for boycotting the elections.

The 1960 electoral law, which dictates this year's election, includes several reforms suggested by the Boutrus Commission for the new electoral law. Among other things, the Commission gives Lebanese citizens above 18 years of age the right to vote. This regulation, however, will be implemented in 2013.

Despite the delay in the implementation of the law, young Lebanese across the country have taken part in rallies and contributed to electoral campaigns while a considerable number of them have chosen to step back and express their grievances with the system. They have done this in several ways.

Some have created groups on the social networking site Facebook, while others have created blogs and websites to exchange their ideas. They have posted videos, illustrations and articles to make their case.

Some have formed fan groups and published online posters of their own creation. These posters are not officially endorsed by party members.

Other voters-to-be have chosen to express their concerns through music.

In a new satirical music clip titled Rayess Bek, the narrator, who appears as a young Lebanese man, says that the country's biggest problem is sectarianism and that he will vote for those who promote civil marriages and secularism.

Young blogger Maya Zankoul also chooses to publish satirical cartoon strips of problems in the country. She posts her illustrations on a daily blog and invites readers to share their opinions.

For 23-year-old journalist Gilan Fatayri, who hails from a town in Mount Lebanon, the voting age should definitely be lowered because young people have a lot to say and can bring about changes in the system.

"Young people start to develop their political ideas starting their first year at university. By the time they are 18, they usually have a certain conviction and enough awareness to vote," she said.

"There are many things that need to be fixed in the Lebanese system, starting with its confessional nature, but if young people are not involved in that process, change will not take place. It is the youth who are able to bring new ideas," Gilan said.

However, the young candidates who are running for parliament, she said, are not presenting new ideas but rather reiterating their fathers' and grandfathers' viewpoints but that does not stop young voters from supporting them anyway.

"There is this feeling that we should vote because this is a very important year that will define the future of the country," she said.

Gilan will be voting for the incumbent parliamentary majority.

"I believe in their plan for Lebanon. I believe that they will work towards achieving stability and sovereignty, which we still haven't attained. When that happens, the economy will strengthen, which is also an issue of crucial importance," she said.

"Even if young people are given the right to vote, it wouldn't change a thing because they will still choose the same people they are following today," said Rania Barakat, 25, who works in human resources in a Beirut-based company.

Rania, who votes in the South, will not be making the trip to her hometown tomorrow. There is no use in voting, she said, because the Southern town is dominated by one main party, the Hezbollah, and because nothing ever changes. Rania did not vote in 2005 although she was above the legal age for voting.

"It's for the same reason that I am not voting...," she said.

"I am not interested in politics and I don't follow any political party but some people are going to vote just to make a point and others told me they will be voting blank" to counter that choice, she said.

The Interior Ministry, which handles the elections, will be counting blank votes for the first time this year. Various groups and NGOs have created Facebook groups to get people to leave their votes blank.

- Maysam Ali is a freelance journalist based in Beirut.