A person must be on the electoral register to be able to vote. Registration doesn’t happen automatically, so supporting young people to register is a key part of encouraging participation.
Young people are under-registered and under-represented at the ballot box. This has long-term implications for how their interests are reflected in policy decisions.
Young people are more likely to move for study or work, live in shared housing, or simply not realise they need to register themselves. These practical challenges can make it harder to stay on the electoral register – even for those who want to vote.
