As voters make their way to polling booths for local elections, Royal Holloway is calling for young people to ensure their voices are heard in this 2017 election period.

#VoteBecause is a campaign launched today to:

• Inspire young people to register to vote
• Motivate them to exercise this vote
• Share their passion and rouse others using #VoteBecause

Voter turnout in 18 to 24-year-olds has fallen from over 60% in the early 1990s, to an average of 40%

“Contrary to their somewhat shaky electoral turnout record, research shows that young people are politically active,” says Dr James Sloam,  Department of Politics and International Relations at Royal Holloway.

“They engage in alternative forms of participation, on issues that have meaning for their everyday lives from rallies to consumer campaigns and community activism.” he added.

 “The disconnection between young people and electoral politics is dangerous. If young people do not vote, politicians will not take their issues seriously, generating further disillusionment and fuelling the vicious circle.”

It takes five minutes to realise your rights

On 8 June 2017 the UK will be given the opportunity to make a decision on its future.

Whether local issues on our doorstep, or the ‘big’ questions of our collective future, now is our chance to make our vote count.

 As long as you know your national insurance number it takes five minutes maximum to register to vote.

Only 36 per cent of 18- to 24-year-olds cast their vote in the EU referendum