Less than half of 18 to 24-year-olds plan to vote on EU

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Over 80 per cent of over-65s intend to vote

Britain Stronger in Europe made a video urging young voters to register

Just 47 per cent of voters under 24 plan to vote in the EU referendum, according to a new poll by BMG Research, compared with 80 per cent for voters over 65.

The polling data, commissioned by the Electoral Reform Society (ERS), suggests a huge advantage for Brexit supporters, as young people tend to favour EU membership, while over-65s are mostly for leaving.

The results were up slightly from April, when 41 per cent of 18 to 24-year-olds planned to vote, and 76 per cent of over-65s.

The polling also found that a third (32 per cent) of those aged 18 to 24 have not even been contacted about the referendum by campaigns, compared to 13 per cent for those over 65.

Darren Hughes, deputy chief executive of the ERS, said:

‘The huge 33 percentage point chasm between young and old when it comes to whether they will ‘definitely’ vote bodes badly for our democracy when it comes to ensuring we have as representative a vote as possible.’

He added:

‘Around four million 18 to 24-year-olds are unregistered, so with three weeks to go until the referendum, we need extra efforts to encourage them to sign up in colleges, universities and workplaces across the country.

‘This referendum shouldn’t be decided by one generation on behalf of another – this is a vital national conversation that needs to involve everyone, not just older voters.’

Registering to vote takes five minutes. You can register by clicking here, and share the link to encourage others to register. 

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2 Responses to “Less than half of 18 to 24-year-olds plan to vote on EU”

  1. Cole

    Bizarre that so many young people – supposedly the best educated generation ever – can’t be arsed to spend a few minutes determining the future of their country. What’s their excuse?

  2. Finally, an EU video for young people that young people might actually like | BuyCheapVR

    […] As less than half of 18-24-year old voters plan to vote in the EU referendum, both campaigns are desperately trying to engage young voters, and both have been accused of patronising them in the attempt. […]

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