Youth participation in the democratic process [NI]
Executive Summary
The Electoral Commission commissioned this research in October 2004. The research aimed to explore and measure the attitudes and behaviour of young people aged 16-24 towards participation in democratic processes generally including electoral registration and voting in elections. The research had two components, a participatory research component and a public opinion survey. The Institute for Conflict Research (ICR) was responsible for the participatory research and the completion of the report whilst PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) conducted the quantitative survey.
The research had three stages residential weekends, focus group discussions and the quantitative survey. The findings from each stage helped to formulate the next phase. The residentials were conducted over two weekends and involved a group aged 16-17 and another aged 18-24. In total 30 young people took part. The focus groups were held in various locations with a total of 80 16-24 year olds participating. Focus groups were also held with the youth wings of some political parties. The quantitative survey incorporated all 18 constituencies and 26 District Council areas. The methodology comprised of a street survey with 1113 respondents within the specified age category. All interviews were conducted face to face and each interview took approximately 10 minutes to complete.
The residentials indicated that many young people were negative about politics and were frustrated as they felt that politicians ignored them. The overriding view was that politics was boring and complicated which did not act as an incentive to become involved. Northern Ireland politics was also viewed as being different in some ways to the rest of the United Kingdom due to the history of violence. Many felt that politics here focussed more on religion and difference than ‘real’ issues such as health and education.
Throughout the research the influence of family, friends and the community on voting habits became apparent. Many felt that this influence at times restricted choice as they were unlikely to go against the tradition of their family and/or community. There was a certain degree of scepticism among participants throughout the qualitative research as to the point of voting as some felt that ‘it made no difference’. This led many to recommend the need for more education concerning politics in schools and it was suggested that the Electoral Commission should carry this out.
The themes from the focus groups were very similar to those from the residential sessions. Throughout the discussions no differences were noted in attitudes between various age groups, genders or community backgrounds. Differences were however noted according to the degree of interest in politics:
1. Those who were not interested in politics or related issues and did not want to engage in any discussions. Within these groups the discussions were usually short with the young people having very little or nothing to say.
2. Those who initially were not interested in the subject area but as the discussions continued became more interested. These first two groups included the majority of respondents; and the final group
3. Those who were very interested in politics and related issues including the youth members of the various parties.
In addition many focus group participants said that they were confused by politics and regarded it as highly complex subject. However, it was felt that this could be alleviated with more education about politics and political issues. Many of the young people felt political figures did not encourage young people to become involved in politics as they were either ‘old’ or ‘too removed’ from the real issues affecting young people today.
The quantitative survey highlighted that:
• 50% of 16-24 year olds are to some degree interested in politics. This was more positive than the findings from the qualitative phase.
• Only 27% either had no interest or very little interest.
• Age affected level of interest with older respondents expressing more interest.
• Neither religion nor gender affected level of interest.
• The majority (52%) of 16-24 year olds feel that they have an average level of understanding of Northern Ireland politics.
• Level of understanding increases with age.
•Males had a higher level of understanding than females.
• Males were more likely to be strong supporters of a political party than females (20% males compared to 10% females).
• The family was the strongest influence on voting behaviour (49%).
• 60% of 16-24 year olds had their name on the electoral register.
• Only 12% were not registered and 20% said they were too young.
• 49% had voted in the May 5th elections.
• For those who had not voted the main reason was that they were not registered or didn’t receive a poll card (32%).
• Factors that would encourage young people to vote in the future included ‘politicians focusing on areas of interest to them’ and ‘feeling that voting could make a difference’.
• Sectarianism, crime, paramilitary activity and drugs were viewed as the biggest issues facing Northern Ireland at the present time.
• Wider issues facing the UK included the Iraq war with issues concerning Northern Ireland not considered to be high.
• 50% associated the peace process with Northern Ireland politics.
• 53% felt politics was relevant to their life.
• 41% of 16-24 year olds felt politicians didn’t make an effort to listen to young people.
• 67% felt the voting age should remain at 18.
In the survey 36% of young people felt that they had something to contribute to politics. It is important that these young people are not only encouraged to do so but also given the opportunity. This may in part help to alleviate the perception that politics is just ‘boring old white men arguing all the time’. Politics is relevant to young people and they must begin to feel part of the process. It was perceived that education on politics and political issues would increase awareness and many also felt interest among their peer group thus providing an incentive to become more involved in the future.
Conclusion
The qualitative research in this study indicated that many young people are not interested in politics and indeed find the subject area boring. However many feel passionate about issues which affect their lives but as stated by one participant ‘it is the linkage between politics and issues which causes the problem as young people don’t think it (politics) will make any difference’.
The quantitative survey did however indicate a more positive situation with 50% of 16-24 year olds indicating some degree of interest in politics. Interest increased with age which corresponds with Jowell and Park’s theory that interest in politics begins to become more apparent when people become taxpayers, mortgage holders and ‘stakeholders’ with something to lose as well as gain.
Many young people expressed frustration that politicians did not listen to them and 41% of survey respondents felt that politicians did not make an effort to listen.
Listening and responding to the concerns of young people is an issue which politicians will have to deal with especially when 69% of 16-24 year olds state that they would ‘vote for a politician who listens and responds to my concerns’.
The qualitative research highlighted that it was also about interacting and communicating with young people. The lack of participation from some political parties whilst conducting this research does not bode well for future communication between political representatives and young people. Until the communication issue is addressed many young people will continue to feel that their views and opinions do not matter and that politicians are not interested in them.
However, the view within the residentials was that this was a two-way process with one participant stating ‘you can’t sit back and complain if you don’t get up and do something to make it better’. Clearly the residentials encouraged some of these young people to become more involved and indeed to think about using their vote.
The survey found that 49% of 16-24 year olds had voted in the 2005 May 5th elections with 23% of the sample too young to vote. For those who had not voted the main reason was that they were not registered or didn’t receive a poll card. The percentage who had voted is similar to that of the 2001 Westminster election with 50% of those under 24 having voted. A post-election survey undertaken by PwC on behalf of the Commission found that that those aged between 18-24 were the least likely to have voted (44%). This had reduced from 49% at the 2003 Assembly election.
The research clearly suggests that young people want more education concerning politics with requests for the Electoral Commission to visit schools. In addition more engagement is also required with politicians and young people corresponding more together. The clear message is that politicians must start to listen and indeed respond to young people’s concerns. This includes corresponding in ways young people understand and relate to such as through e-mails and via websites.
The Wimps website is one way in which this process has been developed in Northern Ireland but many young people in this study indicated that they were not aware of Wimps, thus highlighting the need to publicise this facility more to this age group.
In the survey 36% of young people felt that they had something to contribute to politics. It is important that these young people are not only encouraged to do so but also given the opportunity. This may in part help to alleviate the perception that politics is just ‘boring old white men arguing all the time’. Politics is relevant to young people and they must begin to feel part of the process and as previously highlighted this is a two-way process with both politicians and young people playing their part.
The report is only available online at http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/about-us/researchpub.cfm
