On Thursday 12th December I will enter a nearby primary school, polling card in hand, and vote for the first time. It's a moment I’ve been waiting a long time for. I watched the 2015 and 2017 elections, frustrated at not being able to take part. I know that my vote matters. Young people could determine this election – if we turn out.
Age is “the new dividing line in British politics”, according to YouGov. Among first time voters in 2017 (those aged 18 and 19), Labour was 47 percentage points ahead. Among those aged over 70, the Conservatives had a lead of 50 percentage points.
But young people aren't voting. In the 2017 election only 57% of young people used their vote. This was a significant increase on 2015, where just over 40% of young people voted, but still nothing in comparison to the 85% of over 70s who cast their ballots. Young people's voices aren't being heard – and this has significant implications for our political system.
