Will you go to the polls?//
　In Japan, people can vote from the age of 18.// But according to the results of Japan’s 2019 national election, the voting rate among all Japanese was 48.8%.// The voting rate among young people in particular was even lower at 32.3%.// In contrast, the voting rate in Sweden for 18-year-olds is over 80%.// This tells us young people can be inspired to go out and vote.//
　Therefore, we need to change how people in Japan think about voting.// It is especially important for young people to be aware that they are responsible for creating the society of the future.// The next few issues of The Aozora Times  will include student essays that propose a variety of ways to tackle the voting issue in Japan.// Feel free to submit your own ideas!//