ARE YOUNG PEOPLE JUST DISENGAGED OR LEGAL AGE FOR VOTING NOT YOUNG ENOUGH?

When I turned 18 and voted in a local election and it was not because of a personal interest I had in politics. My family would vote every year and their views on voting influenced me to vote. However, when I was in sixth form and decided to take up sociology as one of my subjects that was when my interest in politics really began. In my first year at a levels I covered a module called Education. I learnt about various education policies put in place in different years by the political parties that have achieved electoral victory and take charge until the next election. In 2014 then secretary of state education Michael Gove made an impact on my views in politics and wanting change in the education system. The messy education system he had created for a levels, where some people did modular and some linear and changing the grading system to numbers and all this happening half through the academic year. Doing a linear paper meant not retaking and therefore creating lower chances for people to pass. However, in July 2014 his position as secretary of state education had ended and he had been replaced. Many of my colleagues in sociology at a levels shared similar views and had an interest in politics. Discussions created by my a level teacher in lessons about political parties and their educational views gave everyone a better understanding of different political views and to me the importance to vote.

IS THERE A HIDDEN FIGURE OF THE DISENGANGEMENT IN YOUNGSTERS?

Figure 1 Bar graph of how different ages voted (intergenerational foundation.org, 2016)

This shows different age groups along the bottom showing the percentage of people who voted. The turnout of the amount of people who voted who were between the age 18-24 was just over 40% whereas the percentage for the oldest age group which is 65+ was almost 80%. This shows that compared to all the other age groups, young people show the most decline in political engagement. Although it clearly shows young people with the lowest voting rate it does not necessarily mean that they are not politically engaged. The age for voting is 18 and those younger than 18 may have an interest in voting, therefore voting results are limited in showing political engagement as there may be young people under 18 wanting to vote or discussing political concerns. Another reason for this is 18 year old’s being university students and moving to different parts of the country or world, which may not affect them at the place that they are in.

IS BREXIT THE BREAKTHROUGH FOR THE DRASTIC INCREASE IN YOUNGSTERS VOTING?

When I was in my last year of a levels in 2017 the Brexit referendum took place. As I had already turned 18 I was able to vote and I used this opportunity to vote and engage. Other colleges also voted and this discussion created an uproar amongst young people and instigated many youngsters who initially did not have an interest in politics. Platforms such as twitter gave young people a chance to voice their opinions whether they could legally vote or not. At sixth form my Head of sixth form lead an assembly encouraging everyone that could vote to make their vote count and believe in the system, their opinion and change. However, my friends did not have the same experience in their schools, so I feel it is important to increase the amount engagement towards them and the way youngsters should be educated and approached about politics.

Figure 2 Turnout of the age groups comparing the 2015 elections and 2017 elections (Ipsos MORI, 2015)

Figure 2 shows the results of the election in 2017. The votes of young people have rapidly increased from 43% in 2015 to 63% in 2017 whereas the participation of votes by over 65’s has dipped from 80% in 2015 to 73% in 2017. This shows a great increase in young people’s engagement in politics. If the legal age for votes were lowered to 16 the turnout of votes of the age group for young people would have been the highest turnout percentage.

Figure 3 A video of Alaa Fawaz, 16, voicing her views for votes at 16.

A young 16 year old Alaa Fawaz makes HER views, HER voice, HER political engagement reach the House of Commons to discuss the importance of young people needing to vote. This shows a young person at such a young age talking about why we need to lower the age for voting.

If this isn’t young people engaging with politics what is?
Why are we ignoring the future of our country?
After all don’t the votes affect young people the most?

Bibliography

Alaa Fawaz at UKYP House of Commons Debate 2017 (2017) https://youtu.be/VPZ8eTwHflY (Accessed: 8/3/19)

Ipsos MORI (2015) How Britain voted in 2015. Available at: https://www.ipsos-mori.com/researchpublications/researcharchive/3575/How-Britain-voted-in-2015.aspx?view=print (Accessed: 8/3/19)

Intergenerational foundation, 2016. Available at: http://www.if.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/How-did-young-people-vote-at-the-2015-general-election.pdf (Accessed: 8/3/19)