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Daniel Bentley, communications director at the Civitas think tank, says: "The problem with compulsory voting is that it does not promote real democratic engagement but just turns voting into one more thing that the state requires us to do, like filling in a tax form or taking the car for its MOT.

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Daniel Bentley, communications director at the Civitas think tank, says: "The problem with compulsory voting is that it does not promote real democratic engagement but just turns voting into one more thing that the state requires us to do, like filling in a tax form or taking the car for its MOT.

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In less than four months' time, Britain will go to the polls in what promises to be a tense and highly unpredictable general election. Politicians and campaigners are gearing up and there is already much excitement - in the Westminster village, at least.

But as with previous UK elections, millions of voters are expected not to turn out and many more will not be registered to vote in the first place. In 2010, a close election, the turnout was 65%; nearly 16 million registered electors did not vote. And recent estimates suggest 7.5 million eligible voters are not able to vote because they are either missing from the electoral register or not correctly entered on it.

The right to vote is the most fundamental tenet of democracy and yet millions do not exercise it. So should that right be made into a duty?

The senior Labour backbencher, David Winnick, MP for Walsall, is one of a number of politicians supporting more radical moves to get people voting.

He has introduced a Commons ten minute rule bill - an opportunity to highlight an issue of concern - suggesting that voting should become a "civic duty".

Mr Winnick pointed out that, at the last general election, "those who did not vote were larger in number than those who voted for any one of the political parties contesting the election".

"If you add that figure to those not correctly registered that adds up to more than the votes for the two main parties in the election," he told MPs.

"I would have thought that should be a matter of much and serious concern to this House whether or not what I am proposing is accepted.

"If we want our democracy to flourish, commonsense dictates we should do what we can to get far more people to participate in elections than do at the moment."

Mr Winnick wants the UK to consider a system similar to that in Australia, where people who do not vote, or at least express their intention to abstain, are fined.

He insists his proposals do not constitute compulsory voting as such. Those who have religious or other objections would be able abstain but they would be required to register their abstention by contacting their electoral office in advance or doing so in person at the polling station.

However, Mr Winnick's vision does represent a radical move from the voluntary principle on which the British system has been based since universal suffrage was introduced nearly a century ago.

Australia's voting system

Registering to vote and going to the polls have been legal duties in Australia for citizens aged 18 and over since 1924.

Failing to vote can result in a fine of 20 Australian dollars - around £11 - and court action if fines are not paid.

Supporters say Australia boasts one of the highest levels of civic participation in the world.

Critics say a high turnout based on a mandatory system does not translate into a politically engaged electorate.

There have been several failed attempts to abolish the system.

Australia is one of only 11 countries which enforce participation in elections. Around a dozen more have adopted some kind of mandatory voting legislation but do not enforce it.

But the idea of enforcing civic duty such as jury or military service is established in democracies around the world.

The US, for example, has written certain civic obligations into the constitution - though it does not have mandatory voting.

Supporters of greater enforcement of voting such as David Winnick ask why participation in elections should not be seen as a similar obligation of the citizen towards the state.

"Don't we all have obligations?," asked Mr Winnick.

"We all have to pay local and national taxes and if we drive we pay road tax...we can't opt out and we don't want anyone to opt out. Is that an infringement of civil liberties?"

"I don't see why it should be argued that if there is a civic obligation to vote and being able to abstain there should be attack on the grounds that our civil liberties are being undermined."

But critics say such an idea is alien to British democracy with its unwritten constitution and its more ad-hoc approach towards the concept of citizenship.

In a report on voter engagement in November, MPs on the cross-party Commons Political and Constitutional Reform Committee considered both sides of the argument.

The committee cited evidence that a mandatory system "would be politically very difficult to introduce in a country where it has no precedent" but also heard arguments in favour, including claims that inequality would be reduced through re-engaging disenfranchised communities.

The MPs were split but agreed to recommend a government assessment of how compulsory voting could work in the UK - a move hailed by the Labour MP chairing the committee, Graham Allen, a supporter, as a major step forward.

"Our democracy is facing a crisis if we do not take urgent action to make elections more accessible to the public and convince them that it is worth voting," he said.

Mr Allen and fellow campaigners are particularly concerned about young people's disengagement with politics and democracy. Only 44% of 18-24 year olds voted in the 2010 general election and research suggests the gap between younger and older age groups in relation to participation in voting is widening.

The Institute for Public Policy Research, a centre-left think tank, highlighting a "dramatic social class divide in electoral participation", has advocated compelling first-time voters to turn out to try to "kick-start voting as a habit of a life-time", with the proviso that the option of "none of the above" should be available on the ballot paper.

Mathew Lawrence, research fellow at the IPPR ,said: "The state already requires people to do much more onerous things than to turn up at a polling station.

"At the moment, politicians can get away with not addressing issues affecting young people because they know that young people are less likely to vote. Why not reverse that and open up a whole section of the electorate? It would force politicians to have a conversation about the interests of young people."

But Mr Lawrence acknowledges British political culture is resistant to such ideas. "We need to find a way of changing the language and the way we present these thoughts; any suggestion of compulsion is very unpopular in Britain. One way round this would be to wrap up a law about voting and participation into a whole constitutional re-think about what it means to be a citizen of the UK in this globalised world."

Others considering the disengagement problem are highly sceptical of any moves to increase the role of the state.

Daniel Bentley, communications director at the Civitas think tank, says: "The problem with compulsory voting is that it does not promote real democratic engagement but just turns voting into one more thing that the state requires us to do, like filling in a tax form or taking the car for its MOT.

"We need people not simply to tick a box on polling day but to be as engaged as possible with decision-making, because that is the only way of ensuring our representatives work for the common good."

The government remains wary of any form of compulsory voting and none of the main political parties at Westminster has adopted it as a policy.

Registering to vote is slightly different - under a new system introduced by the coalition government, voters are now required to register individually rather than via the head of a household. A "small civil penalty" of £80 may be imposed on those who "refuse repeated invitations to register".

Meanwhile, campaigners for the option of "none of the above" to be included on ballot papers are continuing to make their case that conscious abstention is better than no participation at all in the democratic process.

Historically Britain has a tradition of resistance to radical reforms to the constitution. But campaigners say dramatic solutions may be required to tackle what is often described as a democratic crisis.

Critics question whether changes to mechanics of the voting system will address this crisis.

Some go as far as to reject the whole system of representative democracy, such as the comedian, campaigner and self-styled revolutionary Russell Brand, who says he's never voted and doesn't see any point in doing so in the future.

"It is not that I am not voting out of apathy," he famously said in a Newsnight interview with Jeremy Paxman.

"I am not voting out of absolute indifference and weariness and exhaustion from the lies, treachery and deceit of the political class that has been going on for generations."

Daniel Bentley, of Civitas, says society has to find ways to show how voting makes a difference to people's lives.

"The main obstacle to higher turnout is the feeling that there is very little choice on offer - the main parties are fighting over such a narrow strip of territory, and are focusing their efforts on such a small number of swing voters - that voting won't change anything. The rise of parties like UKIP and the Greens, filling some of the space vacated by the three main parties, is a symptom of that.

"The same is true at a local level, where council turnouts are pitiful, but there it is because town halls are not felt to have any real influence over people's day-to-day lives because they don't have enough clout."

Mr Bentley suggests radical devolution to local communities, including of taxation, could be one way of encouraging active citizenship.

There will be a strong interest from all parties in turnout at this year's general election. Another figure seen as worrying low would give fuel to those who say our democracy is broken and to those who recommend radical solutions to fix it.

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Should voting (or actively abstaining) be compulsory?

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In less than four months' time, Britain will go to the polls in what promises to be a tense and highly unpredictable general election. Politicians and campaigners are gearing up and there is already much excitement - in the Westminster village, at least.

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Just as fundamental as the right to vote in a democracy is the right not to vote. Every individual should be able to choose whether or not they want to vote. Some people are just not interested in politics and they should have the right to abstain from the political process.

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Which sources do you think we should use for our multi media resource??

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I also found this, It's not really full of information but it's a good way for the university to reach students and encourage voting.

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What are Party leaders promising students in May?

The Labour, Conservative, Liberal Democrat and Green Parties have released their manifestos and we've been going through them to see what they are committing to that will affect the lives of students. We've put together the key areas in the Party manifestos that we have campaigned for this year:

Find out more

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The Labour, Conservative, Liberal Democrat and Green Parties have released their manifestos and we've been going through them to see what they are committing to that will affect the lives of students.

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Criodan talks about the history of voting in Ireland and how voting lets you have your voice and opinions heard

This is an opinion of a young person and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of SpunOut.ie. It is one person's experience and may be different for you. If you'd like to write something for SpunOut.ie please contact editor@spunout.ie.

"Make your voice and your opinion heard."

Irish history is a long, detailed and fascinating tale. For a small island, we are laden with historic tales, legends, myths and mystery. Unfortunately, one area where there is no myth is the oppression and mistreatment from our English neighbours. For years, Irish people were treated as lesser individuals. Our music, our culture and our way of life was under threat.

Only just over a century ago, Irish people had very little, to no say, in how their country was governed. From 1800 to 1922 and the introduction of the Irish Free State, Irish law was very similar to English law. Irish people only had the opportunity to register to vote every eight years! Many Irish groups and organisations were prohibited from voting.

Women were only granted voting rights in 1918, however this only applied to over 30s. It wasn't until 1922 that the voting age was lowered to 21 to join their male counterparts in terms of Dáil Éireann elections. In 1935, the age limit for women was reduced from 30 to 21 for local elections. It would be a long and arduous battle until finally after the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution in 1972 where the voting age was lowered to 18 for everyone. It's incredibly inclusive. Regardless of your sex, religion, ethnicity, every Irish citizen is granted the right to vote.

In recent years, we have seen our constitution undergo many changes. We have seen same-sex marriage become legal, the rights for women to access abortion at home and the abolition of the crime of blasphemy. Each of these referenda have been a large step towards a better, safer, more inclusive country and a sign of a maturing progressive nation.

Whilst it is important to celebrate these significant improvements in rights, accessibility and others, it is important not to forget how change is brought about in a democracy - voting.

Voting is the way of telling the government, the local council, whoever, what you want from them. It is your biggest opportunity to have a say. If you have an opinion or want something done a certain way, voting is the way to ensure that it's carried out. If you don't get out and vote a multitude of things happen - you lose your right to complain about the outcome and someone else makes your decision for you. Imagine if someone told you what you were going to eat or drink, or what you were going to study for the next couple of years. You wouldn't stand for it. This is effectively what happens if you do not voice your opinion. Voting is also a method of protest. If you aren't happy with your TDs performance, vote them out!

Every single vote counts and you should ensure that you get out to vote and encourage your friends and family to do the same. In the past 37 years, just three Dáil seats have been won by just five votes each. In the recent 8th Amendment Referendum, the turnout was 64.13%, quite a large turnout. However, just a few weeks later, the Blasphemy Referendums' turnout was only 43.9%. An amendment to the Irish Constitution is vitally important. There have only been 37 amendments since its inception. You should absolutely look to impact a changing Ireland each time you have an opportunity.

Young voters are also vitally important especially in the modern era. Young people are opinionated and being outspoken is much easier nowadays thanks to social media. Being educated on issues and politicians has never been easier. In the Blasphemy referendum, 80% of those under 44 voted Yes. In the 8th Amendment Referendum, 82% of those aged 18-24 voted Yes, compared to 83% for 25-34 year olds and only 69% aged 50-64. You can see how younger people have a stark difference in opinion to the older generations.

There has also been a good increase in voter turnout of registered 18-25 year olds. In the 2002 General Election, only 50% turned out to vote compared to 62% less than a decade later in the 2011 General Election. Young people appear to take this seriously. But if we delve a little deeper, we see that the amount of unregistered youths has increased hugely. In 1999 only 14% were unregistered. In 2014 that number had grown to 30%. This is a massive issue. An opinion is only as powerful as those behind it. If you fail to raise the numbers of your opinion it will always be the minority.

Voting is an incredible and fundamental right that we are lucky to have. Without this right, you would have no control over the ground beneath your feet. We are incredibly privileged and it is important not to belittle an important opportunity like voting. Make your voice and your opinion heard.
This article was written by a SpunOut.ie volunteer. Check out our volunteering opportunities here and get in touch if you're interested in getting involved.

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Why voting is so important for all young people - SpunOut.ie - Ireland's Youth Information Website

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This is an opinion of a young person and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of SpunOut.ie. It is one person's experience and may be different for you. If you'd like to write something for SpunOut.ie please contact editor@spunout.ie. "Make your voice and your opinion heard."

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Are young people politically disengaged?

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Are young people politically disengaged?

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“People are politically disengaged if they do not know, value or participate in the democratic process. In the UK, political disengagement is more prevalent among certain groups than others. This paper considers which groups are considered to be politically disengaged, and why. Political disengagement can take different forms. This paper includes information on political attitudes that indicate political disengagement; levels of participation in political activities; political party membership; electoral registration; voting; and the number of councillors, candidates and MPs drawn from particular groups. Young people reported lower levels of knowledge about politics than other age groups. They were less likely than other age groups to participate in political activities, to be on the electoral register, and to vote. The average age of councillors, candidates and MPs is over 50.”

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"we would be a powerful political voice with the opportunity to push for policies and investments such as truly affordable housing, youth services and an education system that teaches the subjects that prepare students for life. Investing in services that we care about wouldn’t just be given lip service, it would have to be a reality.In a society where all young citizens vote, politics would be given the shake-up it desperately needs, with younger politicians getting elected, making parliament more diverse and bringing with them modern ideas and opinions. The end result would be a parliament that would be more innovative and willing to try out new things, implement better laws and overall make politics more accessible."

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"we would be a powerful political voice with the opportunity to push for policies and investments such as truly affordable housing, youth services and an education system that teaches the subjects that prepare students for life. Investing in services that we care about wouldn’t just be given lip service, it would have to be a reality.In a society where all young citizens vote, politics would be given the shake-up it desperately needs, with younger politicians getting elected, making parliament more diverse and bringing with them modern ideas and opinions. The end result would be a parliament that would be more innovative and willing to try out new things, implement better laws and overall make politics more accessible."

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With the general election fast approaching, politicians, the media and older people will be talking about young people and our so-called "lack of engagement" with politics once again.

Whether you realise it or not, young people are not disengaged from politics. We are talking politics with our friends, when we are together, online and on social media platforms. We have opinions about the country and the world we live in, and we know what we'd like to see done about it. We are getting involved in campaigns, whether they're for gender equality, affordable housing or criminal justice reform. We are creating social enterprises to tackle the issues facing our communities and wider society. Youth activism over the past two years has shown that there is an appetite for social change among our generation.

The issue isn't that we are not active or do not care about politics, the issue is that not much of this passion or activism translates into votes or registration. This is due to a general lack of faith in the political system and our elected officials' inability to deliver solutions on society's most pressing issues.

Young people are one of the groups least likely to be registered and vote, and the consequences of this is evident. If we hold the belief that politics is about supply and demand, the argument that politicians will only supply where there is a demand would explain why issues facing young citizens rank low on the list of political priorities. Only 43% of 18- to 24-year-olds turned out to vote at the last general election.

Let's imagine for a moment that in this general election and in future elections, all eligible citizens aged 18 to 24 in this country registered and used their vote to help elect candidates that better represented them.

To start with we would have a voice, and a strong one in the ongoing Brexit negotiations. This is key considering that we will be the generation to live longest with the effects of Brexit. Second, a youth voting block would mean the issues directly affecting us could no longer be ignored. The days of us being pushed to the back of the line (like a Friday night club reject while "baby boomers" enjoy the benefits of the VIP lounge) would be over.

A full youth vote would drive active citizenship and the result will be a more sensitive, just and civil society

Instead, we would be a powerful political voice with the opportunity to push for policies and investments such as truly affordable housing, youth services and an education system that teaches the subjects that prepare students for life. Investing in services that we care about wouldn't just be given lip service, it would have to be a reality.

In a society where all young citizens vote, politics would be given the shake-up it desperately needs, with younger politicians getting elected, making parliament more diverse and bringing with them modern ideas and opinions. The end result would be a parliament that would be more innovative and willing to try out new things, implement better laws and overall make politics more accessible.

Interactive

A full youth vote would drive active citizenship and the result will be a more sensitive, just and civil society. Why? Because we would be a country whose voting system is based on the thoughts and voices of all its citizens. Young people would feel like we actually have a stake and say in society.

While we can't guarantee it would solve every issue we care about, a strong youth voting bloc would make us a force to be reckoned with. It begins with all of us ensuring our names are on the electoral register before the deadline at midnight tonight.

We all have a choice as young citizens concerning whether we want a place at the table or whether we want to continue to be "on the menu". No matter what age you are and even if you don't feel that any party represents your exact views, values or visions for change, there is always the option to spoil your ballot. It may not be ideal, but it is a way of sending a major message and declaring that you are ready and willing to vote but that no one on your ballot paper represents you.

This is not an election just on choosing which party we feel is best to negotiate Brexit, this is also an election about which party can solve some of the biggest issues facing the UK over the next five years. Which means that not turning up isn't an option.

* Please make sure you register before the end of today. Let's all #TurnUp on 8 June

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If young people vote, we can transform British politics | Kenny Imafidon

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With the general election fast approaching, politicians, the media and older people will be talking about young people and our so-called "lack of engagement" with politics once again.   Whether you realise it or not, young people are not disengaged from politics.

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Turn Out Gap•	Just 43% of 18-24-year-olds went to the polls 2015 compared with 78% of people aged 65 or over, according to Ipsos Mori; That's a huge gap of 35 percentage points.•	There's been a similar gulf for the past 20 years•	a scenario where a turnout of 78% of 18-24-year-olds leads to an extra two million votes; therefore could have a huge influence on the outcome of the vote.

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Turn Out Gap•	Just 43% of 18-24-year-olds went to the polls 2015 compared with 78% of people aged 65 or over, according to Ipsos Mori; That's a huge gap of 35 percentage points.•	There's been a similar gulf for the past 20 years•	a scenario where a turnout of 78% of 18-24-year-olds leads to an extra two million votes; therefore could have a huge influence on the outcome of the vote.

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Here's the source

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2017-39965925

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What do you all think about this?

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How to get young people to vote | Rick Edwards | TEDxHousesofParliament

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I found this document which shows a lot of statistics regarding voting by age groups.

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General Election Issues 2017: Young people voting - will they turn out?