'Are You Voting?': We asked UK students about their plans
Students are less likely to vote than the general population, but there are signs that this is changing.
In the 2019 general election, just 43% of 18-24 year olds voted, compared to 67% of the general population. However, there was a significant increase in youth turnout in the 2017 general election, when 64% of 18-24 year olds voted.
This suggests that young people are becoming more engaged in politics, and that they are more likely to vote in future elections.
There are a number of reasons why students are less likely to vote.
One reason is that students are often very busy, and they may not have time to register to vote or to go to the polling station on election day.
Another reason is that students may not feel that they are informed enough about the issues to make a decision about who to vote for.
Finally, some students may feel that their vote will not make a difference.
There are a number of things that can be done to encourage students to vote.
One is to make registration easier. For example, some universities have set up voter registration drives on campus.
Another is to provide students with more information about the issues. For example, some universities have set up non-partisan voter education programs.
Finally, it is important to encourage students to believe that their vote matters. This can be done by reminding them that young people have played a key role in some of the most important political movements in history.
Here are some additional tips for encouraging students to vote:
- Talk to your students about the importance of voting.
- Help your students to register to vote.
- Provide your students with information about the issues.
- Encourage your students to vote on election day.
