INTRODUCTION

This is my child

1.1  Background Information

Participation of people or citizens in Political democratic election is a key precondition toward involvements of citizens in decision making organs regarding social, political, economic and cultural aspects of the society life. Participation is a central driving force of participatory democratic politics
which is assumed to be a cornerstone for broad decision making of citizens in the direction and operation of political systems (Maiyo, (2008). The proponents of democracy argues that participation is an essential condition for a true democracy in any country with varying degree of participation depending on the nature government that is authoritarian or liberal democracy states Milbrath and Goel ( 1977 ) .Kabembe (2003) reported that the democratic participation was assumed that people would participate in the affairs of the state after elections were held. A study by Harrop and William, (1987) found that participation in elections makes citizens to feel a sense of belonging, and reinforces self-esteem. Richardson, (1983), Cunill, (1991) posited that political participation expresses itself in individual and collective actions mainly focused on voting, campaigning, contacting, group action and protest all oriented towards influencing the representatives in government, rather than active and direct participation in the process of governance itself. Many studies show that participation in democratic election enhances governance, transparency and accountability of the elected leaders and through transparency prevents public treasury from looting by greedy politicians (Bratton and Walle 1997.   According to (Kabembe, 2003; Maiyo, 2008) political participation is an essential pre-requisite for good governance as it improves information flow, accountability, due process, and give voice to those most directly affected by public policy. People’s participation democratic election is ways or means through which the people tend to influence the composition of the government or governmental policies (Iseghohim, 2009).  It is contended that when peoples and political parties are given opportunities to fully participate in political activities, and without any act of frustrating oppositions to boycott elections, is an indication of higher democratic quality though take full opposition participation to indicate presence of democratic quality in terms of realization of this aspect of equal participation (Lindberg, 2004).

Youth Political participation in election Tanzania has been evolved over time since independence, youth were left behind in political participation and decision making in the society. Abbink, (2005) reported that in the decades after independence the decision making units confined to elite political leaders who led struggle for independence and youths who managed to penetrate in politics were carefully screened and contained, hence the participation of youth were limited and as years went on young generation were become prominently opposition politics in many Sub-Saharan African including Tanzania.  Therefore this study intends to address on the factor influencing youth participation in democratic election.