They have to stop taking things at face value. Seek out other opinions. When reading the mainstream, believe the opposite, you will probably come closer to the truth that way. Ditto for being involved in politics. One continually runs into a wall of ignorance or indifference.
Elections are particularly hard to deal with.
Apathy and alienation run supreme. That's not to say that such conditions are not warranted, only that it is hard to remain optimistic when one runs into such collective moods. Moreover, the media treats politics in general, and elections more specifically, as exercises in consumption. Parties are defined as consumer preferences. Choices are made on a whim, often defined by the appearance of the candidate or the particular spin given to an issue.