If this problem is not solved, we face the danger of loosing an entire generation of voters.
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By Laurence Scott
Young people like me are the future of this country – like it or not. We need to help shape our future but how can we increase political activity among young people?
In the most recent Democratic Audit, it was found that democracy and political participation is in “terminal decline” as we already know. In 2010, the total turnout of 18 – 24 year olds was an inexcusable 44% (See graph below).
Many of my fellow young people are apathetic towards politics; they feel like they are not listened too, find politics boring and uninspiring, and have difficulty understanding politics.
It should not and does not have to be like this – for the sake of this country and our democracy.
There are very few who disagree that we desperately need a period of national renewal akin to the one after the Second World War. Young people need to be involved in the debate, decisions and destiny of this; we are the ones who will have to live with the decisions being taken now. Currently, not enough of us young people are politically active.
I have 3 ideas that I believe would help to increase engagement and activity among young people.
- Better education about politics throughout our schooling
At the moment there is very little in the way of education and encouragement for young people to develop opinions, be those opinions about politics or anything else. Children should be taught how to debate and take part in debates in primary school.
Debates increase confidence, help develop the critical-thinking skills that Universities are crying out for and help to develop literacy skills. I know that, if I had the chance to have debates as part of the national curriculum at primary school, I would have become involved in politics sooner and more intensely.
2. The voting age needs to be lowered to 16-years-old
It has been debated for a long time – let’s get on with it and lower the voting age to 16-years-old. If you are able to take your GCSEs at 16 – which require maturity and decision-making – then why are you not able to vote at 16?
• Ken stays ahead as Boris doubles-down on blaming young people for youth unemployment 23 Jan 2012
• Boris Johnson’s words show he doesn’t care about young people 20 Jan 2012
• 2012: The year ahead for young people 7 Jan 2012
Better education about politics is a waste of time if, by the time people leave school, they do not have the chance to participate in politics fully and fairly.
3. Young people need to be treated better and more fairly by society
Contrary to what the press would like everyone to believe, the vast majority of young people are not drug-dealing lazy thieves. That is just inaccurate. The 18-year-old diver Tom Daley at the Olympics last week is just one example of a young person doing something positive – and there are many more. This problem is a wider problem in society that must be grappled with.
I am sure I speak on behalf of all young people when I say that we need not be victimized. If young people felt that they were an important part of society, more would want to shape it. Instead, many young people reject politics because it is part of the society that victimizes them, not listens to them.
Those are just 3 ideas that might help. If this problem is not solved, we face the danger of loosing an entire generation of voters.
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20 Responses to “How can we get more young people to be more politically active?”
Thomas Coles
The only rational political action by the young at this point is to imitate those in Tottenham.
blarg1987
I partially agree wuith your comments, however I don’t think lowering the voting age to 16 will help, as all political parties will do is say vote for us and we will lower the smoking and drinking age as a bribe to young people.
Education yes but also I think people need to be more aware of the other political parties then the big three, such as greens, socilist paerty etc, and shown the value of tactical voting i.e. voting for a party that best represents their values, but if tehy do not get in, the party that may get in may appease those voters if a alrge enough majority.
I think LFF can also help by putting in comments from all left wing parties showing their policies etc and allowing young people to have more information.
I admit though I sometimes find with some young people their is a carrot and stck, carrot being the abovee and stick being when someone complains the goverment is treating them poorly etc I ask did they vote and when they reply no I ask them then what right do they have to complain, it can lead to a realisation and so motivation for them to go to the ballot box next time if not to change things at least to vote for a party.
Jim
Every time I sit on public transport and listen to young people I simply marvel at their grasp of the important issues of the day. Just the other night, a group of them on the 270 bus from Wandsworth to Tooting were discussing the previous edition of Newsnight and whether fiscal stimulus really was the answer. One of their group wanted to show off the new phone he’d bought, but the others told him to put it away as they were about to discuss the future of the Eurozone.
But then, we shouldn’t be surprised, exam results get better and better every year. The only possible explanation is that our young people are simply much more intelligent than previous generations and we should reflect this by lowering the voting age. Preferably to 13.
Patrick
There’s an inconsistency in your argument. if you’re going to lower the voting age to 16 because of evidence of ‘maturity and decision-making’ then make 16 the age of legal responsibility, including amongst other things: the right to take on debt and be pursued by creditors, declared a bankrupt, the right to be sued, the obligation to be tried for criminal offences as an adult and named in newspapers, to be persued for child support, and all the other unpleasant things that go along with being an adult.
You can’t pick and choose the things that you think you have the maturity to decide: either you’re able to make the mature decisions of an adult, or you aren’t. In effect what you are advocating is lowering the legal age of responsibility to 16.
Newsbot9
Give them a party of the left to vote for, rather than just paternalist centralists and paternalist right wingers.
Kids get enough paternalism from their parents, what you’re suggesting will just lead to “lower voting rates”. Changing the voting system to PR is a lot more important, too,