Abstract
This chapter deals with young people and voting through a substantial amount of data shown in several tables. The chapter presents the contested statistics on electoral participation and shows that the available data is problematic. The chapter then documents how the electoral participation rate for young people has changed since the 1960s. Next, it discusses explanations for lower registration rates and electoral participation rates among young people compared to older members of the electorate, including apathy and alienation (supply-side reasons). Attempts to increase registration and turnout of young people are then documented, before seventy-five potential ways to boost participation in elections are provided. The chapter ends with data and a discussion on young people’s participation in the 2016 ‘Brexit’ referendum.
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Pickard, S. (2019). Young People, Voter Registration, Voting, Elections and Referendums. In: Politics, Protest and Young People. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-57788-7_8
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