Youngsters on snap election and referendum

Someone could rightfully argue that Brexit created a lot of uncertainty in the market and formed an additional division in the society, this time between youngsters and their elders.

During political campaigns there was a notion that UK will eventually remain in EU which sent false messages to young people that they should not be extremely worried but going to polling stations would be something good. Probably not the right way of thinking, in my humble opinion, but things changed.

As mentioned in a previous blog post even though the majority of the youth voted to remain the turnout was significantly low given the circumstances. Only 36% of 18-24 years-old voters participated but that – fortunately – improved for the parliamentary election. The term “fortunately” does not refer to the result itself, as it’s not relevant at the moment, but mostly for the message youngsters transmitted to current leaders.

For the latest general election the turnout rose to 64% making it the biggest percentage in the past 25 years. That outcome can have multiple meanings but two of them seem to be the most significant ones.

On the one hand, it can be regarded as a result which political party leaders could not foresee and they will treat it as an event that most likely will not be repeated in the near future. 

On the other hand, it can be perceived as an indication that youngsters learned from their low participation during Brexit vote and from now on they will stay updated when it comes to political matters to make the best possible decisions in the future for them and the generations to come.  

At the moment it is hard to make any concrete statements whether or not the mobilization of young people during the snap election made them aware of how much voting power they have collectively.

However we can express with certainty that the younger generation is not so alienated from politics, as we thought it was. Not anymore.

                                      Youngsters and politics