It’s largely understood that older people are much more likely to vote than the younger generation. This was more apparent in the 2016 referendum when the group most likely to vote “Remain” were the group least likely to vote at all. Now, with another General Election set for just over two years since the last one, the vote of the younger generation is even more critical. The UK recently triggered Article 50 to leave the European Union. All quarters are insisting that younger people register to vote to have a say in the future direction of the country.
Universities UK Steps Up to Help Students Vote
The UK’s universities have largely stayed out of politics in the last few elections. Although the umbrella organisation did point out the benefits of staying in the EU, they stopped short of encouraging students on which way they should vote. Now, Universities UK – the organisation for Vice Chancellors, has spoken out to students on the importance of voting in 2017. It is believed that both the 2015 election and the 2016 referendum results could have been different with a higher turnout from younger voters (not just students). Some universities have given students the option of registering to vote through the institute’s intranet, something never done before, and it’s proven quite successful.
Perhaps driven by a feeling that nothing ever changes, students – unless particularly strong influenced one way or the other –tend not to vote in large numbers. It is hoped that active engagement will change that.
Why 2017 Could Be Different
Disillusionment seems to be the thing stopping students from not just registering to vote, but actually voting. The national turnout in the 2015 General Election was 66%. Amongst students, it was just 43%. With the 2016 referendum on membership of the European Union, the turnout was 72%. The student turnout trend reversed from the previous year with a particularly high turnout of 87%. When looking only at the student vote, the balance was 85% Remain and 15% Leave.
A sample study of those offering intranet registration for students found much higher levels than universities that simply provided links to the relevant .GOV website. It was also far higher than those universities who did not engage students at all.
Similarly, in a recent survey of 1,000 young people in higher education, student interest in politics is higher than it has ever been. Student vote has had generally little to no impact in most GEs due to the low turnout being problematic for the younger generation and not being enough students, but this year could be different. Over 90% of eligible students have registered (possibly indicating a highest ever level of turnout amongst students). Most worrying for the government, 55% of students surveyed were planning to vote Labour.