This thematic paper was developed as a contribution to the Secretary‑General’s Report on Youth, Peace and Security and the Progress Study on Youth, Peace and Security (YPS). The paper responds to growing interest among development, democracy, peacebuilding and youth empowerment practitioners in understanding how the YPS agenda can strengthen youth‑inclusive electoral and political processes amid rapid shifts in civic engagement. These shifts include the increasing influence of youth-led movements and digital forms of participation that are reshaping how young people engage with political systems and civic spaces.

Drawing on evidence and field experience across regions and informed by consultations with members of the Global Coalition on YPS and the Electoral Assistance Division of the UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA), the paper highlights practical examples, lessons learned, and emerging approaches to advance more peaceful, inclusive, and meaningful youth participation in electoral and political processes worldwide.