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Youth voter turnout on the rise
2 November 2017
Youth voter turnout on the
rise
The New Zealand Union of Students’ Associations
(NZUSA) is applauding the 49,370 more young voters who
turned out for the 2017 General Election, in figures
recently released by the Electoral Commission. There was a
6% increase in voter turnout among young people under 30
compared with the 2014 General Election, the highest
proportionate increase compared with any other age
group.
National President Jonathan Gee says, ‘in an
MMP environment, one percentage point can be make or break
for a political party or government. With almost 50,000 more
young people voting than at the last election, it shows that
we made a difference.’
Students’ associations
across the country played their part to increase youth
turnout through the the #WeHavePower campaign. Spanning
across 15 tertiary campuses, the campaign mobilised hundreds
of volunteers who organised lecture walkouts, political
debates, vote pledges and phone banking among other
activities in an effort to get students and young people to
the polls.
‘#WeHavePower was the beginning of a
movement to better connect young people with politics.
Politics has failed to speak to the aspirations, experiences
and lived realities of young people, which leads to low
youth turnout at elections. We hope that we’ve played our
part in working to end the political marginalisation of
young people.’
Gee warns, however, that we need
structural change in order to further increase youth voter
turnout.
‘A high youth voter turnout won’t happen
overnight. If we continue to believe that young people
don’t care, and continue to deny them universal civics and
citizenship education in schools, things won’t
change.’
Students and young people also expect that
politicians keep their promises on the issues they care
about.
‘We want to see action on issues such as
mental health, better financial support and climate change.
We’ll be holding the Government to their promises over the
next three years to ensure that politics works better on the
issues we care
about.’
ENDS
NZUSA - New Zealand Union of Students' Associations
We stand for opportunity, for all.
NZUSA is the New Zealand Union of Students' Associations, the national body that represents New Zealand's students' associations and the interests of New Zealand's 400,000 students at universities, polytechnics and in trades training.
We conduct original research, advocate to Government and through the media, and support New Zealand's students' associations to be more effective on behalf of their members. We advocate alongside Te Mana Akonga – The National Māori Students' Association, and Tertiary Women New Zealand – The NZUSA Women's Caucus.
Since 1929, we've believed in a society rich in opportunity, where anyone from anywhere can become any thing. We support accessible, affordable quality public tertiary education.
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