An introduction By Daniel Colthart and Torrin Wilkins Voter registration An introduction By Daniel Colthart and Torrin Wilkins

Young voters activity through the years: Referendums EU Membership - 1975 - 64.03% AV Referendum - 2011 - 42.20% EU Membership - 2016 - 65.38% Youth Turnout Early 90’s - > 60% 2010 GE - 44% 2015 GE - 58% EU Referendum - 64% General Elections 1945 - 72.8% 1979 - 76% 1997 - 71.4% 2010 - 65.1% 2015 - 66.1% http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/economics/research/wpl/projects/voting/map/

How to register: You can register on GOV.UK which should take 5 minutes. You can register by post. You can register to vote even if you don’t have a fixed address. You can still vote even if you are: A patient in a mental health hospital, homeless, a merchant seaman, part of the gypsy or travelling community , living on a boat or other moveable residence and person remanded in custody. These are only predictions written before the general election

How to get young people into voting Make it interesting Show them the importance The voting process Educate Make it real Make it real - talk about votes for 16 year olds http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/economics/research/wpl/projects/voting/background/

Local Authority Mayors Directly-elected combining both ‘Civic’ Major role and Leader of the Council Duties include:- Chairing meetings of the local Council Promoting the local area to businesses who might want to invest their money there Making the most of tourism if there is any in the area Championing charitable causes including helping to organise relevant events Attending important public functions such as Remembrance Sunday events

Mayor of Cambridge and Peterborough Responsibilities part of the devolution deal, the responsibilities of the combined authority will include the following: A £600 million budget for local economic growth (£20 million over 30 years) A £170 million budget for housing, including affordable and council housing, with £70 million specifically for housing in Cambridge. A budget for transport infrastructure improvement and maintenance A budget for provision of skills training and apprenticeships Integration of local health and social care resources Integration of local employment services, and design of a National Work and Health Programme alongside the Department for Work and Pensions

Local transport: Controlled by the local mayor Major concern for students Lots of students commuting from rural areas Talk about this as major way of getting people into voting

Voting in the future The British Youth Council has been campaigning for 16 year olds to get the vote. Scotland has already allowed 16 year olds to vote in Scottish Parliament elections. During the Scottish independence referendum turnout was 75% for 16 and 17 year olds compared with 54% of 18-24 year olds (What Scotland thinks). Internet voting

Groups encouraging young people to register to vote: Operation black vote: Wants to help ethnic minorities register to vote. UK youth: Registered 824 young people to vote. Mencap: Number of downloadable guides to help young people to vote. Homeless link: Helps young people, social housing residents and homeless people to register to vote. Bite the ballot: Campaigns on the importance of voting.

Bite The Ballot A charity trying to improve voter turnout in young people by making politics appealing to younger voters.

“...it is the duty of everyone in public life, including the government, to make sure everyone who is eligible to vote is able to vote”. Minister Sam Gyimah