Voting, Elections and Citizenship Learning
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In a democratic society the development of young people’s knowledge, understanding and skills in relation to voting and elections is a vital part of citizenship education. At the last General Election in 2015 only 44% of 18-24 year olds voted.
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As post-16 learners approach and reach the minimum voting age, it is particularly important that they have positive, practical experience of involvement with democratic processes. This can come through activities such as:
· Elections for representatives on student councils and students’ unions
· Election question time sessions with local party candidates
· Mock elections which simulate general or other elections or referendums
· Student led campaigns for voter registration.
Wherever possible such events and activities should be linked with active ‘classroom sessions’ which build young peoples’ underpinning knowledge of democratic values and processes, including the significance of voting and the role of elections, representatives and political parties, and offer opportunities to discuss a wide range of social and political issues.
· Elections for representatives on student councils and students’ unions
· Election question time sessions with local party candidates
· Mock elections which simulate general or other elections or referendums
· Student led campaigns for voter registration.
Wherever possible such events and activities should be linked with active ‘classroom sessions’ which build young peoples’ underpinning knowledge of democratic values and processes, including the significance of voting and the role of elections, representatives and political parties, and offer opportunities to discuss a wide range of social and political issues.
Voter registration
A change to the system in 2015 means people can no longer register others in their household and must add themselves individually to the electoral roll. It’s a simple process that can be completed online but one that many, especially young people, aren’t yet aware of. New research by the Electoral Commission shows there are nearly one million fewer people on the electoral roll than a year ago and that around 30% of 18-24 year olds are not registered to vote, compared with less than 5% of those aged over 65.
Consequently there is an urgent need for action to facilitate young peoples’ inclusion on the electoral roll. For online registration go to: https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote and see also: http://www.aboutmyvote.co.uk
Which staff members and students might take a lead with these initiatives in your organisation?
Could you have a special voter registration campaign – with a student group helping to lead, perhaps linked with the students’ union or student council?
Select guide to post-16 learning resources for young peoples’ political engagement
The materials and information sources referenced below can be used to stimulate debate about voting, elections and the reasons for the low turn-out at elections among young people – and to encourage young people to register to vote and to use their vote when opportunities arise. Most can be adapted to suit young people studying at different levels and in a variety of contexts.
Rock Enrol! (GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rock-enrol-engaging-young-people-in-democracy) is an accessible and engaging resource from the Cabinet Office with short activities to encourage young people to discuss controversial issues and register to vote.
In a similar vein Youth Counts! Democracy Challenge (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/youth-count-democracy-challenge) is set of interactive resources from UK Youth (http://www.ukyouth.org) with support from the Cabinet Office. The covers a wide range of issues on the theme of democracy and youth engagement (for example on voting specifically see ‘Why vote?’ and ‘Me and my vote’ on p60-63)
Bite the Ballot (http://bitetheballot.co.uk) is an organisation which campaigns for activity in schools and colleges to encourage young voter registration. It offers games (http://bitetheballot.co.uk/the-basics/) aimed at inspiring discussions about voting, de-mystifying the registration process and emphasising the power of young people.
Two post-16 citizenship publications – ‘Voting and elections’ and ‘Time to Vote’ – available from our own website also offer information pieces and activities for learners. In particular see ‘Votes at 16’, ‘Compulsory voting’ and ‘Running a mock election’ from ‘Voting and elections’ and ‘Why should we vote’ from ‘Time to vote’.
For further arguments about votes at 16 and compulsory voting see the following BBC News reports:
Should voting (or actively abstaining) be compulsory? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-30709153
Should 16-year-olds get the vote following referendum? (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-29327912)
Also on votes at 16 – and much else on voting and election see the Electoral Reform Society (http://www.electoral-reform.org.uk/votesat16/).
The Electoral Commission (http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk) is the independent elections watchdog and regulator of party and election finance and is a key source of official information about voting and elections in the UK.
Parliament's Education Service has some excellent resources including an election toolkit:
https://www.parliament.uk/education/teaching-resources-lesson-plans/election-toolkit-/ and a going to the polls class election activity:
http://www.parliament.uk/education/teaching-resources-lesson-plans/going-to-the-polls-class-election/
A change to the system in 2015 means people can no longer register others in their household and must add themselves individually to the electoral roll. It’s a simple process that can be completed online but one that many, especially young people, aren’t yet aware of. New research by the Electoral Commission shows there are nearly one million fewer people on the electoral roll than a year ago and that around 30% of 18-24 year olds are not registered to vote, compared with less than 5% of those aged over 65.
Consequently there is an urgent need for action to facilitate young peoples’ inclusion on the electoral roll. For online registration go to: https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote and see also: http://www.aboutmyvote.co.uk
Which staff members and students might take a lead with these initiatives in your organisation?
Could you have a special voter registration campaign – with a student group helping to lead, perhaps linked with the students’ union or student council?
Select guide to post-16 learning resources for young peoples’ political engagement
The materials and information sources referenced below can be used to stimulate debate about voting, elections and the reasons for the low turn-out at elections among young people – and to encourage young people to register to vote and to use their vote when opportunities arise. Most can be adapted to suit young people studying at different levels and in a variety of contexts.
Rock Enrol! (GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rock-enrol-engaging-young-people-in-democracy) is an accessible and engaging resource from the Cabinet Office with short activities to encourage young people to discuss controversial issues and register to vote.
In a similar vein Youth Counts! Democracy Challenge (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/youth-count-democracy-challenge) is set of interactive resources from UK Youth (http://www.ukyouth.org) with support from the Cabinet Office. The covers a wide range of issues on the theme of democracy and youth engagement (for example on voting specifically see ‘Why vote?’ and ‘Me and my vote’ on p60-63)
Bite the Ballot (http://bitetheballot.co.uk) is an organisation which campaigns for activity in schools and colleges to encourage young voter registration. It offers games (http://bitetheballot.co.uk/the-basics/) aimed at inspiring discussions about voting, de-mystifying the registration process and emphasising the power of young people.
Two post-16 citizenship publications – ‘Voting and elections’ and ‘Time to Vote’ – available from our own website also offer information pieces and activities for learners. In particular see ‘Votes at 16’, ‘Compulsory voting’ and ‘Running a mock election’ from ‘Voting and elections’ and ‘Why should we vote’ from ‘Time to vote’.
For further arguments about votes at 16 and compulsory voting see the following BBC News reports:
Should voting (or actively abstaining) be compulsory? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-30709153
Should 16-year-olds get the vote following referendum? (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-29327912)
Also on votes at 16 – and much else on voting and election see the Electoral Reform Society (http://www.electoral-reform.org.uk/votesat16/).
The Electoral Commission (http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk) is the independent elections watchdog and regulator of party and election finance and is a key source of official information about voting and elections in the UK.
Parliament's Education Service has some excellent resources including an election toolkit:
https://www.parliament.uk/education/teaching-resources-lesson-plans/election-toolkit-/ and a going to the polls class election activity:
http://www.parliament.uk/education/teaching-resources-lesson-plans/going-to-the-polls-class-election/
Image: iStock