Young people across the UK refused right to vote

7 May 2010 2 mins read Emily Watson Youth Work

Young people across the country were refused the right to a first-time vote time last night as polling stations struggled to handle queues of waiting constituents.

Students in Newcastle, Birmingham, Sheffield and the London Borough of Hackney were among the young voters affected, with some being made to wait in three-hour-long queues before being turned away at the last minute because of delays and a lack of ballot papers.

Students at Sheffield Hallam University are outraged following last night's events at their local polling station of St John's Ranmoor.

Student Union president Dani Beckett said: "After months of putting effort into getting students to pledge their intention to vote, we are appalled that young people were denied this right."

Students were allegedly lined up in a separate queue to local residents, who were then given preference to go first.

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