Don't Forget to Vote on May 5th!

18 or over? Don’t forget to vote in the 2022 May local elections this Thursday (May 5th)!!

Many of the young people who work with Teach the Future are unable to vote due to being under the age of 18. Therefore, they are unable to have a say in their future, unable to participate in democracy and unable to have a choice in how things are run. Personally, as a 20 year old, I’ve only had the opportunity to vote in two elections, a by-election and the May 2021 elections, merely missing out on the 2020 parliamentary elections due to turning 18 shortly afterwards. This felt unfair and one of the reasons I started Climate Strikes when I was 16 because I felt powerless and that I didn’t have a voice. Young people don’t get a say in their future. So, on behalf of the youth volunteers at Teach the Future, make sure you turn up to the ballot box on Thursday. Exercise your democratic right to vote, a right that many have fought for, many have not always had before and many still don’t have today. Vote for candidates whose views align with your own, vote for our future, vote for education and vote for climate. 

18 - 24? 18 - 24-year-olds currently have the lowest voter turnout in elections. The 2020 elections saw less than 50% of our age group turn up on election day. Unlike 2020, the upcoming election is a local election as opposed to a parliamentary election but nevertheless it's important to fill the ballot boxes with young voices, showing those in power that we do care and that it matters to us who is making decisions and running our towns, cities, and our country. 

It’s a great day to engage in democracy!

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Find out where your local polling station is and who is standing for election in your area here.

Unsure if you’re registered to vote? In order to vote in elections, you need to be registered to vote. You can register to vote from the age of 16 but are only eligible to vote from the age of 18. University students can be registered to vote at both their home address and university address. Therefore, you can vote in the area you are in at the time of the election. The deadline to register to vote in the May elections has now passed but head to https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote to register for future elections, to check if you are/where you are registered to vote and to learn more about the different ways you can vote.

Think the voting age should be lowered to 16 so that more young people have a say in their future? The British Youth Council have teamed up with Body Shop and a handful of youth activists (including our very own Scarlett West) to develop a #VotesAt16 manifesto to encourage political parties to engage with the issue and allow 16 and 17 year olds to #BeSeenBeHeard. Find out more here.

Keep up to date with Teach the Future on our socials here. Sometimes, we hold climate hustings with candidates standing for elections, asking them if they’ll stand up for our generation and push for Climate Education. Keep your eyes peeled for future hustings!

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Polling stations are open from 7am to 10pm on Thursday 5th May 2022. 

Happy Voting!

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Cover Image Source: https://www.byc.org.uk/news/2022/british-youth-council-reignites-campaign-for-a-lower-voting-age