Political Apathy Among Youth in the United Kingdom

By: Filippos Letsas

March 31, 2015

Political apathy—whether it translates into low voter turnout, disengagement from civic activities, or inability to make informed decisions, is closely linked to the youth in Britain. Young Britons seem to be disconnected from the political system, processes, and parties in the United Kingdom, an element that causes great concern to officials as the May general election is fast approaching. Currently, polls indicate that less than 20 percent of 18-24 year olds plan to vote; and since voting remains the most indicative sign of citizens’ relationship with politics, a truly worrying picture emerges regarding political participation of youth in the United Kingdom.

Surveys have shown that young people in the United Kingdom are particularly concerned about the amount of money they earn, their ability to pay their bills, and the possibility of being unemployed. Regardless of whether they vote or not, they generally agree on the policy areas that politicians should be prioritizing: ensuring economic stability, attracting foreign investments, and stimulating job creation. So, what are the main factors that affect youth’s political engagement and why do some people actually choose not to vote?

Young non-voters are largely more distrustful of politicians and generally consider their promises to be deceitful, their intentions to be manipulative, and their actions to be corrupt. The perception that all candidates are similar makes the youth think that their vote can make no difference. Some non-voters maintain that their beliefs are not represented by any of the candidates running for election. Others justify their decision not to vote by claiming lack of information to make rational and informed decisions.

But are young people really to blame for their lack of trust in politicians, when the vast majority of them feel that politicians are not representing their needs? How can a teenager easily find value in the process of civic participation when the bulk of newly adopted government policies refers to pensions, mortgages, and savings? It seems that young people are not by definition disengaged with politics, but are forced to adopt this stance, since politicians refrain from talking to them about the issues they deeply care about, using youth-friendly language.

It hasn’t always been the case that the youth desisted so profoundly from voting practices. It is a new phenomenon, which young people justify as response to recent government actions that have demotivated them from trusting their representatives, such as the dramatic rise in tuition fees to £9000 and the abolition of the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA).

Logic says that the less politicians urge young people to become engaged with politics, the less young people are likely to vote. But one can also say that, the less young people are likely to vote, the more politicians will ignore their demands, feeling that there is no risk of being punished at the ballot box. Hence, the millennial generation will become even more distanced from politics, and the vicious circle will continue. According to specialists, those who do not vote at a young age are likely to never actually do so, a habit that grows the threat of radically decreasing election turnouts.

The important question now becomes: how would we successfully manage to increase turnout among young people in the United Kingdom? Campaigns such as Bite the Ballot, Swing the Vote, and the League of Young Voters have been notable attempts to encourage participation, but alone are certainly not sufficient. Undoubtedly, social media should be part of the solution. For example, Facebook collaborated with the Electoral Commission last month, promoting a reminder on users’ newsfeeds to register to vote. Similarly, Twitter stands as one of the most important tools for voters to actively look for information regarding the elections, as it contains information that is considered to be unbiased and easy to understand, and allows for an unpolished perspective.

Undeniably, young people need to be impartially educated about the function of the political system, the adoption of new policies, and the ways through which they can make their own contribution to it. Improved teaching of civics is essential in promoting the discussion of political affairs on campuses and encouraging students to vote. Since less than 2 percent of 18 to 24 year olds are members of political parties, universities are the only large institutions that can—and should—provide political socialization to young people. By setting up events that promote the discussion of key political issues, by promoting voter registration as a matter of empowerment, and by encouraging students to advertise these enterprises through the network of each university—universities’ leaders can help students make their voices heard.

As it has been shown in the past—particularly in Obama’s first presidential campaign and the recent Scottish referendum battle—young voters have a tremendous impact to the electoral result when engaged by inspiring politicians who are responsive to their needs. The youth turnout rate in the United Kingdom has fallen from 60 percent to approximately 40 percent over the last three decades, a drop that should alarm officials; the turnout rate among 18-24 year olds is currently less than half of the corresponding rate in Sweden. And since this age group is making up nearly 15 percent of the electorate, the participation of youth can be a critical factor in the way polls swing.

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