One week before the first round of the legislative elections, working-class neighborhoods in the Île-de-France region are mobilizing to convince young people to go to the polls. In Villeneuve-la-Garenne, in Hauts-de-Seine, the abstention rate reached 65%. Local associations which support young people in the city on a daily basis have tried to re-mobilize first-time voters from the suburbs. On Friday June 21, they organized a political popularization evening around the legislative elections.
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“ Last question and we give the winner a packet of candy. When was the last cohabitation? » Quiz, debate, sweets and pizza to dissect the legislative. This is the program of this themed evening in which Annas, 19 years old, resident of Villeneuve-la-Garenne, participated on Friday: “ I’m here to read up on politics in general. I felt a little fragile on the subject, because I didn’t know that such a vote could affect us so much in our daily lives. »
The student is part of the 65% of the city’s inhabitants who did not vote in the European elections.
It was on this occasion that the Cité des Chances association was invited, with the mission of popularizing politics in working-class neighborhoods. Ahouefa Fagbémy, aged 22, is part of the association and she interacts with young people on the eve of each election.
“ It can be overwhelming to go to a polling station when, at home, our parents don’t vote.explains Ahouega Fagbémy. We can say to ourselves that without an electoral card, we cannot vote, whereas yes, we can. A vital card is now enough to vote if there is a photo on it. »
In total, there were around a hundred that evening, much more than the organizers had hoped. And the message got through: on June 30 and July 7, you have to go vote.
The challenge is that young people leave this event with more information about the elections and that the candidates’ proposals are made more concrete for them.
Ahouefa Fagbémi, member of the Cité des Chances association
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