Biting the Ballot

It’s a perennial problem, engaging young people in politics. One of the first challenges is getting them to make the connection between the issues that impact on their lives and the political decisions. For some, single issue campaigns are what fire their imagination, but that doesn’t always result in them making the connection with the formal political process. One of the organisations that is working tirelessly to engage young people in politics is Bite the Ballot – if you don’t know them, check them out – their aim is to get young people to register to vote and they do that through making those important connections.

This week they have a debate on compulsory voting, to quote them: “With fewer policies being written for young people because of their lack of turnout and conversely, older people getting more attention due to the high numbers voting every year, is it time that we address this shift in power? Is compulsory voting for young people the way to solve this problem? Or would it only make matters worse?”

The debate between MPs, IPPR, Reform, Ipsos Mori and young people is scheduled for Wednesday 22nd May, 18.30-20.30 in Committee Room 4, House of Commons. If you want to attend, you can register here.

And in two weeks' time they will be debating a subject close to my heart, Personal Finance Education. What is striking is that this came from Bite the Ballot’s My Manifesto Project, where young people themselves identified this as being an important issue for them.

The debate will be looking at prevention rather than cure and I’m pleased to have been invited to be on a panel with parliamentarians, MyBnk, pfeg (Personal Finance Education Group) and young people.

The debate is scheduled for Tuesday 4th June, 18.30-20.30 in Committee Room 10, House of Commons and again, if you want to attend you can register here.

But whether or not you can make these debates, do keep in touch with Bite the Ballot. You can follow them on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube, and do contact them if you are interested in working with them locally. With the continuing attacks on services for young people, it has never been more important to engage them in the political process, Bite the Ballot can help you do that.

Linda Jack is a member of the Parliamentary Policy Committee for Education, Young People and Families, and former member of the Federal Policy Committee