Force young people to vote, think tank says

[davieG]

Young people should be forced to vote in the first election after they turn 18, a centre-left think tank has said.

Making them vote may halt declining election turnouts and could "kick start the habit of a lifetime", the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) said.

In 2010, 44% of 18 to 24-year-olds voted, with the "younger and poorer" least likely to vote, it suggested.

The UK risks "sleepwalking into a more divided democracy" unless there is reform, the IPPR's Mat Lawrence said.

"The working class and the young have less input into political decision-making processes, with lower rates of participation and representation than older and more affluent citizens," the IPPR report suggested.

Such inequalities undermined the "legitimacy and effectiveness" of democracy, the report claimed, saying it was unlikely the trend would be reversed in next month's general election.

'Political inequality'

At the 1970 general election, the gap between the proportion of 18-24 year olds and over-65s who voted was 18%.

However, at the 2010 general election, the gap had risen to 32% - with 76% of over-65s voting, compared to 44% of 18-24 year olds.

"Long-run decline in voter turnout in the UK is being driven by the relative collapse in participation among the young and the less well-off - not by a uniform decline in turnout among all groups," Mr Lawrence added.

"A distinctive non-voting population, generally younger and poorer, heightens political inequality by giving some groups far greater influence at the ballot box."

The report comes after the voting age was reduced to 16 for the Scottish independence referendum, in September - when 109,593 16 and 17-year-olds registered to vote.

Mr Lawrence said the high turnout at the referendum, as well as the rise of grassroots groups, provided reasons for optimism.

There would need be a "none of the above" option on ballot papers, broadcaster Rick Edwards said

Broadcaster and author Rick Edwards told BBC Radio 4's Today programmethat he supported the proposal, saying "something drastic needs to happen" to encourage young people to vote.

But he said there would have to be a "none of the above" option on ballot papers, to allow voters to express their dissatisfaction.

"The problem is politicians are more interested in serving the interests of the demographic who vote more because they are interested in winning their votes and keeping their votes.

"Therefore what is happening is that young people are getting marginalised and their interests aren't being served as they should be," he added.

He said that if young people felt they were not being spoken to, or were not being paid any attention by politicians, they would be even less likely to vote.

[Voll Blau]

Agree with the "none of the above" optionbeing printed on the ballot, but compulsory voting completely defeats the point of democracy surely? As much as I dislike people abstaining from voting, they should have the freedom to choose to do so.

[davieG]

Quite, and what happens to those that don't vote are we going to need an army of administrators servicing fines and sorting out those that have a legitimate reason for not voting?

 

Surely the answer is in the politician's hands behave with integrity and dignity and  have policies that appeal to all sections of society and a system that ensures that your vote will actually make a difference.

[Guest Bilo]

A bad idea. A democracy can't force people to vote - not voting is as much of a right as not voting, even if it is misguided. 

 

The answer, for me at least, lies in educating students about the political process while they're at school or college - especially now that education up to the age of 18 is compulsory. We should teach students about the key differences between the main political parties so they don't end up thinking all the parties are the same, challenge extremism and look at the history of suffrage. 

 

I myself have taught students about it in form time and indeed within my lessons, and the notion that young people are completely disinterested in politics has been dispelled. One of my students now wants to study politics at uni! The problem is that young people just don't know about politics - much like a great deal of the general population. Let's be honest, you're just as likely to hear stunning political ignorance from somebody in their 50s as you are from the young.

[Sir Fynwy]

A bad idea. A democracy can't force people to vote - not voting is as much of a right as not voting, even if it is misguided.

The answer, for me at least, lies in educating students about the political process while they're at school or college - especially now that education up to the age of 18 is compulsory. We should teach students about the key differences between the main political parties so they don't end up thinking all the parties are the same, challenge extremism and look at the history of suffrage.

I myself have taught students about it in form time and indeed within my lessons, and the notion that young people are completely disinterested in politics has been dispelled. One of my students now wants to study politics at uni! The problem is that young people just don't know about politics - much like a great deal of the general population. Let's be honest, you're just as likely to hear stunning political ignorance from somebody in their 50s as you are from the young.

Australian have compulsory voting and a far more democratic system than our first past the post system.

[The Longstop]

No surprise a centre left think tank would want the young to vote.

As Churchill once said, if you're not a Liberal at 25 you have no heart, but if you're not a Conservative by 40 you have no brain.

Young voters who have never worked and paid tax and have no understanding of where money comes from and how an economy works are easily manipulated. Look at all those students who fell for Clegg.

[sphericalfox]

A bad idea. A democracy can't force people to vote - not voting is as much of a right as not voting, even if it is misguided. 

 

The answer, for me at least, lies in educating students about the political process while they're at school or college - especially now that education up to the age of 18 is compulsory. We should teach students about the key differences between the main political parties so they don't end up thinking all the parties are the same, challenge extremism and look at the history of suffrage. 

 

I myself have taught students about it in form time and indeed within my lessons, and the notion that young people are completely disinterested in politics has been dispelled. One of my students now wants to study politics at uni! The problem is that young people just don't know about politics - much like a great deal of the general population. Let's be honest, you're just as likely to hear stunning political ignorance from somebody in their 50s as you are from the young.

 

Yeah but Bilo, those lefty-teachers will only pollute and brainwash their pupils into hating those cuddly Tories. This is a fact demonstrated by Lee, who thankfully came to his senses, and now can share and educate us all about the benefits of a Tory government.

[Guest Bilo]

Australian have compulsory voting and a far more democratic system than our first past the post system.

 

FPP isn't ideal, but I honestly don't think compulsory voting is the answer.

[davieG]

No surprise a centre left think tank would want the young to vote.

As Churchill once said, if you're not a Liberal at 25 you have no heart, but if you're not a Conservative by 40 you have no brain.

Young voters who have never worked and paid tax and have no understanding of where money comes from and how an economy works are easily manipulated. Look at all those students who fell for Clegg.

A fair few 'grey' voters fell for the Tories promise to cut Inheritance tax which they failed to deliver.

 

I'm not sure they are any less culpable than Clegg was over Student Loans, presumably they stopped each other introducing them during the coalition.

 

GEORGE OSBORNE's pledge in 2007 to raise the inheritance tax threshold to £1 million revived his party's fortunes and, in the view of many pundits, stopped the then Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown calling a snap election. The promise was reiterated in the 2010 Conservative manifesto – but today it looks as if the current £325,000 threshold will remain until 2019 in order to pay for social care reforms.

 

Read more: http://www.theweek.co.uk/politics/51455/inheritance-tax-have-tories-betrayed-their-base#ixzz3WYcKY4gw

 

[The Longstop]

A fair few 'grey' voters fell for the Tories promise to cut Inheritance tax which they failed to deliver.

I'm not sure they are any less culpable than Clegg was over Student Loans, presumably they stopped each other introducing them during the coalition.

I'm not blaming Clegg at all. Everyone with a shred of political knowledge knew it was an empty promise from a party that would never get in. But there were an awful lot of naive students who genuinely believed free degrees for all was achievable.

[sphericalfox]

I'm not blaming Clegg at all. Everyone with a shred of political knowledge knew it was an empty promise from a party that would never get in. But there were an awful lot of naive students who genuinely believed free degrees for all was achievable.

 

They did 'get in'. The were part of a coalition government. Even a moron with a shred of political knowledge won't have let that slip past their canny eyes.

[ealingfox]

Id prefer to do work towards formalising the idea that if you don't vote then you can't complain about the government or anything government-related.

[The Longstop]

They did 'get in'. The were part of a coalition government. Even a moron with a shred of political knowledge won't have let that slip past their canny eyes.

Even a moron with a shred of political knowledge would realise the Liberal Democrats did not win 326 seats to win a majority.

They are a bit-part player in this government and yet got 75% of their manifesto written into the coalition agreement and passed into law. Not bad going, which is why all true Lib Dems (definitely not me!) are delighted about what they achieved.

It's just that around 50% of their votes in 2010 wasn't their core vote is was deluded students (without a shred of political knowledge).

[sphericalfox]

Even a moron with a shred of political knowledge would realise the Liberal Democrats did not win 326 seats to win a majority.

They are a bit-part player in this government and yet got 75% of their manifesto written into the coalition agreement and passed into law. Not bad going, which is why all true Lib Dems (definitely not me!) are delighted about what they achieved.

It's just that around 50% of their votes in 2010 wasn't their core vote is was deluded students (without a shred of political knowledge).

 

You stated that they 'NEVER GOT IN'. That makes you a moron. Maybe you should 'edit' that post. 

[Buce]

Even a moron with a shred of political knowledge would realise the Liberal Democrats did not win 326 seats to win a majority.

They are a bit-part player in this government and yet got 75% of their manifesto written into the coalition agreement and passed into law. Not bad going, which is why all true Lib Dems (definitely not me!) are delighted about what they achieved.

It's just that around 50% of their votes in 2010 wasn't their core vote is was deluded students (without a shred of political knowledge).

I'm not sure about forcing kids to vote, but you're a clear example of why some adults(?) shouldn't be allowed to.

[sphericalfox]

I'm not sure about forcing kids to vote, but you're a clear example of why some adults(?) shouldn't be allowed to.

 

You're making assumptions he's out of pampers. Reads like a virgin who still lives with his parents to me.

[purpleronnie]

No surprise a centre left think tank would want the young to vote.

As Churchill once said, if you're not a Liberal at 25 you have no heart, but if you're not a Conservative by 40 you have no brain.

Young voters who have never worked and paid tax and have no understanding of where money comes from and how an economy works are easily manipulated. Look at all those students who fell for Clegg.

A quote that wasn't actually by Churchill but if you use a quote to cement your beliefs then theres no hope for you.

[The Longstop]

You stated that they 'NEVER GOT IN'. That makes you a moron. Maybe you should 'edit' that post.

Scroll up, I said it was an empty promise from a party that would never get in.

They 'got in' to some extent in coalition and it backfired on them because all their populist rubbish wasn't going to pass into the coalition agreement. But nobody ever claimed free tuition fees had been agreed by the coalition government, if Lib Dems had a majority you would've had a point.

Look forward to you criticising the SNP, Greens and Plaid when all of their promises aren't kept when they 'get in' by holding up Ed Miliband with their progressive left alliance.

[sphericalfox]

Scroll up, I said it was an empty promise from a party that would never get in.

They 'got in' to some extent in coalition and it backfired on them because all their populist rubbish wasn't going to pass into the coalition agreement. But nobody ever claimed free tuition fees had been agreed by the coalition government, if Lib Dems had a majority you would've had a point.

Look forward to you criticising the SNP, Greens and Plaid when all of their promises aren't kept when they 'get in' by holding up Ed Miliband with their progressive left alliance.

 

Your understanding of the words 'never get in', and 'got in to some extent' puzzle me. I hope you never eventually say those to a partner sexually as there are clear distinct differences. Thus making your point ridiculous. I look forward to pulling up any party who make promises they don't keep, clearly you cannot when it comes to the Tories.

[ScouseFox]

they'd have to tell me who to vote for too

[The Longstop]

Your understanding of the words 'never get in', and 'got in to some extent' puzzle me. I hope you never eventually say those to a partner sexually as there are clear distinct differences. Thus making your point ridiculous. I look forward to pulling up any party who make promises they don't keep, clearly you cannot when it comes to the Tories.

Tories have broken plenty of promises. Worst one is that they would completely clear deficit by end of this parliament, they failed. They should have cut harder and faster, they should not have ringfenced foreign aid, they should have been stronger in Europe re the bail outs etc etc they've got plenty of faults.

That said only the Tories or Labour will be running the economy and I know which one I trust above the other.

Regarding Nick Clegg, what happens with fringe parties (like the Greens, UKIP, etc this time) is they make populist pledges to try to win votes to try to win seats knowing they will never be held to account unless they are the government. Clegg did that, as the Lib Dems always have. He came a distant third with 59 seats, which is why you'll find he isn't Prime Minister.

Separately, a few days later, a coalition government was formed between two parties along with a coalition agreement taking some policies from one small party and a lot of policies from the bigger party. That coalition became the government.

Do I need to spell it out any clearer or did that register?

[MPH]

I think we should start with forcing them to get out of bed, never mind voting...

[MooseBreath]

If people don't want to vote, they don't want to vote. What's the problem? The less people we have voting who know nothing about politics the better. Millions of kids voting based on what some geography teacher spent ten minutes telling them about is hardly going to improve the outcome for anyone.

[sphericalfox]

Tories have broken plenty of promises. Worst one is that they would completely clear deficit by end of this parliament, they failed. They should have cut harder and faster, they should not have ringfenced foreign aid, they should have been stronger in Europe re the bail outs etc etc they've got plenty of faults.

That said only the Tories or Labour will be running the economy and I know which one I trust above the other.

Regarding Nick Clegg, what happens with fringe parties (like the Greens, UKIP, etc this time) is they make populist pledges to try to win votes to try to win seats knowing they will never be held to account unless they are the government. Clegg did that, as the Lib Dems always have. He came a distant third with 59 seats, which is why you'll find he isn't Prime Minister.

Separately, a few days later, a coalition government was formed between two parties along with a coalition agreement taking some policies from one small party and a lot of policies from the bigger party. That coalition became the government.

Do I need to spell it out any clearer or did that register?

 

You never addressed my point regarding the NHS.

[The Longstop]

You never addressed my point regarding the NHS.

The pound-for-pound worst healthcare system point? Yes I did, see other thread (i.e. the one you made the point on).