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.
20 Responses to “How can we get more young people to be more politically active?”
blarg1987
@Newsbot9:disqus – Please re read what I have said carefully, as either what I have said is being misunderstood or you are misunderstanding my point.
Can another commentator please read what has been said and give their own opinion as people are getting their wires crossed here and I know I aint right wing :s.
treborc
Once upon a time Unions may well have been a way into Politics it’s not been like this since 1990’s it’s now a career position the right university and the right contacts, and that may well be the problem with politics.
Newsbot9
Then why are you still with the LibDems? Sorry, but there’s absolutely no way you’ll convince me that someone who still supports their parliamentary party has anything to do with the left, as things stand.
Quin
Apathetic youth is a pervasive problem in Western democracies, the United States even more so than Great Britain. The lack of participation is clearly unacceptable if a government is to be truly representative. I think the possible solutions are very interesting, and even if they are not implemented, considering possibilities is the first step forward.
Along with ideas presented here, another possible solution is compulsory voting. A system in which eligible voters are fined for not voting has proven very successful in Australia.
No matter what is done, it is a necessity to fix this disturbing trend.
whomightyoube
Simple; the House of Lords should be replaced with a chamber that has no party politicians but hasrepresentatives of the people. These representatives would be proxy voters for people who vote for them. There would be no constituencies; candidates would stand country wide. Candidates cast the votes of all the people who vote for them on issues presented to the house, checking the house of commons in the same way that the House of Lords does now. For example, if a candidate got 250, 000 votes, then they would cast 250,000 votes as they saw fit. This would mean that voters would always have someone who represented their views. Rather than a limited choice of three or four party lines, there would be the same number of combinations of viewpoints as members of the house. Effectively every government decision would be subject to the will of the people, the result being very close to that achieved by a referendum, but without the great expense and time taken by an actual referendum. It would be relatively easy to use an online questionnaire to find the candidate who most closely matched your views. The candidates with the top support would sit in the house. Those with lower support could vote remotely or could nominate a house member to vote on their behalf, and on behalf of their supporters. If your representative voted against your wishes, simple, next time vote for someone else.
The Labour Party is proposing an elected “US style senate” to replace the HOL. This will not increase public interest in politics one bit. The US House of Representatives is no better model. It is time for something completely different.
This new house should not have executive powers, but should just check government powers. The government should also have the support of the majority of voters. That is to say, it should win any head to head vote with rival political parties. The people have a right not to be governed by a party that does not have the support of the majority of voters. That is not to say that it requires to have majority first choice support.