Vinspired
Vinspired
25 May 2024 ·

Three Million Youth Votes Up for Grabs

New research from Demos highlights that three million young voters remain undecided in the upcoming General Election. The Tune In, Turn Out report, part of the Swing the Vote campaign, outlines key issues influencing young voters and suggests changes to boost youth turnout.

Swinging the Vote

A survey of 1,000 young adults aged 18 to 25 reveals that nearly half (44%) are undecided about their vote, equating to three million potential votes. This demographic could significantly sway election results. Notably, 77% plan to vote, with young men expressing more political interest than women (48% versus 30%).

The Big Issues

The survey identified top concerns among young voters:

  1. Living costs – 69%
  2. Affordable housing – 62%
  3. NHS – 58%
  4. Unemployment – 58%
  5. Gap between rich and poor – 52%

Youth-specific issues like guaranteed jobs or apprenticeships (45%) and reducing higher education costs (41%) are critical for driving youth participation. Young voters prefer positive voting for policies they agree with, rather than opposition voting.

Political Leanings and Desires

Contrary to past assumptions, young people are not overwhelmingly left-leaning. They support traditional left policies and hold liberal views but also favor individual responsibility and see limits on government aid.

Key Desires:

  • Action on priority issues
  • Clear, jargon-free communication
  • Representative parliament with diverse backgrounds

Recommendations

### For Politicians: - Develop clear policies affecting youth - Engage through online platforms and relatable venues - Encourage diversity in political representation

For Social Media and Organizations:

  • Target outreach to less likely voters
  • Utilize social media for voter engagement

System Recommendations:

  • Implement conduct codes for political debates
  • Allow same-day voter registration
  • Explore online voting options

Read the full report

For more on how young people engage in civic matters, explore our resources on Civic Engagement.