Abstract
Local elections suffer from the lowest voter turnout across the United States despite these elections holding major influence in residents’ daily lives. Additionally, young and voting-aged adults have different frameworks for understanding and engaging with politics from previous generations. This is rooted in their reliance on trusted personal networks in an age of information as well as their waning interest in traditional political institutions. This study utilizes survey and qualitative interview data to examine how young, voting-aged adults (ages 18-29) are motivated and discouraged to engage civically. Through iterative testing, we explored how interactive games help encourage them to become more involved in their local elections by demystifying the perceived hostility of politics, helping them learn more about their local environment, and fostering a cooperative model of civic engagement based on guided scenarios. A tabletop game, Denizen, was developed to help facilitate political discussions among young adults and help them learn more about local issues. The outcomes of this study underscore the importance of utilizing new engagement methods for young adults to re-engage them in traditional electoral duties. It also highlights the importance of knowledge-building and developing political expertise in improving civic motivation.
Presenters
Eun Sook KwonChair and Professor, School of Industrial Design, Georgia Institute of Technology, Georgia, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
Civic Participation, Educational Gaming, Interactive Game Design
