Does low youth electoral turnout mean the youth are politically turned off?
The 2019 general election voter turnout aged 18-24 was 47% (Ipsos MORI, 2019), which went down 7% compared to previous general election in 2017 with 54% voter turnout aged 18-24 (Ipsos MORI, 2017). Does this really suggest young citizens are politically turned off? As a young person myself, I can most definitely argue that young people are in fact politically switched on, just lack in our involvement in electoral voting. Which highlights the issue, why are young people engaged in other ways rather one of the most important political participation?
It is argued there is a generational gap in politics. 62% aged 18-24 voted Labour while only 19% voted conservative, also; 17% aged 65+ voted Labour whilst 64% voted conservative. Another thing to look at is 18-24 voter turnout was only 47% and 65+ voter turnout was 74%. (Ipsos MORI, 2019), this data suggests there are political views that are divided by age, also evident that younger population are the least likely to vote in an election. This may lead to young people feeling discouraged to participate in electoral voting as the older generation seem to make up way more votes who are usually aligned with a political idea different to the majority youths, thus leaving young people to feel politically excluded from public policies which rarely benefit them, rendered the youth powerless and marginalised.
Education is possibly one of major reasons of youth disengagement. The lack of political socialisation unfortunately leaves the youth politically uninformed and unable to make political opinions for themselves, this can sometimes allow youths to be, what you would call a ‘standby citizen’, meaning for now, they are simply politically informing themselves and will probably engage later on but also shows that, uneducated youths from disadvantaged backgrounds are least likely to vote as they make up 43% youth voter turnout compared to 59% educated youth voter turnout in the 2019 general election (Ipsos MORI, 2019). Therefore, social class differences in political involvement among young people can be argued that the education system only expands these gaps.
There seems to be a link between political disengagement with young people in the context of rise of individualism. ‘Lack of enthusiasm for authority figures and a distinction to become part of large organisation or entities where one sees little chance of influence’ (Dahlgren, 2009:28). individualism is an unintentional way to contribute to engagement in new forms of politics rather than traditional forms so should not be seen as disengagement but rather disengagement with former politics. (Dahlgren, 2009). Young citizens most likely would prefer to focus on specific important issues such as the anti-Brexit campaign or the climate change campaign rather than a political party.
‘Many western democracies public participation rates are falling and cynicism about government and politics is the dominant feature’ (Barnes et al, 2007:7). Especially young people who see political parties disassociated with their interests. As mentioned before, the very low youth voter turnout rate suggests that young people may feel democracy doesn’t work as their needs are not being met, therefore do not feel the need to participate in electoral voting.
Young people generally do care about the political world and have opinions on current matters but do not seem to have much faith in political parties or politicians to provide solutions. The alternative forms of political engagement popular among the young people are; marches, political demonstrations, protests, signing petitions etc. A more popular form of alternative political engagement is politics in the media as young people are more likely to be active on social media, hence can be used as a tool for political engagement. The new media contribute to some of our political involvement as politics can reach a wider society, giving opportunities for different political views and opinions which allow for political debates (Dahlgren, 2009).
So, what have we learnt? Well, while traditional forms of politics are in current decline among young people, the new media has allowed for countless other ways young people can engage politically, however, cannot forget the importance of democracy and how It can bring about change, and that’s from voting. Possible solutions to increases youth voter turnout would be focusing on education reformation and the voting system.
‘As voting is but one, albeit crucial, mode’ (Dahlgren, 2009:8). To make voting much easier as well as guarantee more engagement within the youths, the government should work towards implementing policies which make everyone automatically registered to vote as well as having compulsory voting, perhaps even given the choice on where they can go to vote, as well as making voting on the weekend so most likely people will be free, or even make voting online so it’s from the comfort of one’s home, any of these methods may effectively produce more voter turnout.
Political education is very important for engagement as people will not participate if they are not educated. Why vote when they don’t know why they should. A good solution would be to implicate education policies such as having politics as a core subject in secondary school, the more political knowledge the more likely someone may vote. Also, not the old ways of having ‘citizenship’ class where you barely touch the surface on politics but an actual core subject in the curriculum.
Bibliography:
Barnes, M., Newman, K., Sullivan, H., (2007), Political Participation and Political renewal: Case Studies in Public Participation. Great Britain: The Policy Press
Dahlgren, P., (2009), Media and Political Engagement: Citizens, Communication, And Democracy. USA: Cambridge University Press
Ipsos MORI, (2017) How Britain Voted In The 2017 Election, Available at: https://www.ipsos.com/ipsos-mori/en-uk/how-britain-voted-2017-election, (Accessed: 10/03/20)
Ipsos MORI, (2019) How Britain Voted In The 2019 Election, Available at: https://www.ipsos.com/ipsos-mori/en-uk/how-britain-voted-2019-election, (Accessed: 10/03/20)