Labour and the Liberal Democrats have both promised to give the vote to 16- and 17-year-olds in their manifestos for the upcoming general election.
Yet young people told the CYP Now podcast in its election special that this needs to be paired with better education of the political system.
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Bill Curtis, aged 15, told the podcast: “I’m really passionate about political engagement. It’s really vital that the votes at 16 are paired up with greater political education in school. When I talk to my classmates who aren’t as interested as me in politics, I think that they don’t know enough about politics.
"Having the vote is something I support, but we need to know who we are voting for and why we are voting for them, and how the system really works, particularly for local MPs. Political education is vital for a healthy democracy. Some basic work with people on a local level, including local MPs, would be really important."
“Everyone is quite overwhelmed and it’s quite hard to make a decision if it’s your first time voting. If you aren’t in the activism community already, people aren’t as engaged or willing to speak out,” added Eden, aged 20.
This comes as the Labour Party won a youth version of the general election, involving just under 23,000 children voting across 112 schools and youth groups in England and Wales.
Key manifesto pledges from the party linked to young people include lowering the voting age, increasing support for youth mental health and opening a series of youth work hubs to reduce rates of crime among young people.
The Liberal Democrats have pledged "investment" in youth services and youth justice services, while the Conservatives key pledge for young people surrounds the creation of a National Service for 18- to 25-year-olds.
However, young people who spoke to the CYP Now Podcast, who won't be old enough to vote on Thursday (4 July) expressed frustration at a lack of representation of pledges for young people during the election campaign.
“The average young person I speak to in Torquay is just sick and tired of nothing happening. The fact that young people feel as if they have no one to represent them is horrific. You can’t enforce having the right to vote without enforcing political education in schools, which isn’t in any manifesto.
“I personally believe the money the Conservatives have pledged for national service should be redirected back into interpersonal and political education within the school system,” said Kole, aged 17.
Digital youth charity The Mix recently revealed that 82% of 16-24-year olds believe the government doesn’t prioritise young people in its policies, with 73% of those aged 16-29 feeling “deeply concerned” about their future.
In its research, it said that 59% of respondents are advocating for more government funding in online youth support services compared to traditional face-to-face support. Young people with poor mental or physical health or with disabilities want greater online support.
Other calls from young people in the podcast included greater investment in youth services and greater investment in the NHS, particularly for young people with mental health issues and disabilities. Calls for a dedicated cabinet minister for young people were also made.
The full episode of the CYP Now podcast election special can be found on our website or on all streaming platforms.
