Research

1. Register to vote website sees huge surge in young people signing up
as midnight deadline looms
There has beenahuge last minute spike inyoungpeople registeringtovote asthe deadline tosign
up intime forthe general electionlooms.
47,300 people underthe age of 24 registeredtovote on19 April alone –around 16 timesthe
numberof people of pensionage (2,893) registeringonthe same day.
The 25 to 34 youngadultage group alsosaw stronggrowthwith39,300 people signingupinasingle
day.
The two age groups sawunusuallyhighgrowthcomparedtootherage groups,whichwere relatively
stable.
Young people drove asurge inapplicationsonthe Sundaywhen124,000 people registered.
Votersnoton the electoral registerbythe endof Monday 20 April will notbe able tovote in the
general election,whichison7 May.
The registrationsare a recordfor the new online systemonlysurpassedonNational Voter
RegistrationDay,5 February.
Withanotherroundof registrationstodayitistoo earlyto tell whetherthe shifttoyoungpeople
closingthe registrationgapbetweenthe oldandthe young.
Olderpeople donotneedtoregistervote asoftenasyoungpeople astheydo nottendto move
house as muchas the young.
While itisto be expectedthatmore youngpeople wouldregistertovote thanolderpeople,the
ratioof youngpeople toolderpeoplehasbeensignificantlysteeperthannormal inrecentweeks –
suggestingyouthvoterregistrationeffortshave beenhavingsome effect.
On 5 FebruaryFacebookpromptedall of itsUK usersto registertovote,whichisthoughtto have
partlydriventhe huge spike inapplicationsonthe day.
The Electoral Commissionsaysthere have been1,838,218 online applicationstoregistertovote and
that of that, 569,771 online applicationshave come from16 – 24 yearolds.
JennyWatson,the Commission’schair,said:“Thisisyourlastchance to registertovote if youwant
to make your voice heardon7 May. It takesjusta few minutestoapplyto registeronline,sodoit
now.
“We don’twantanyone to missout,but if youmissthe deadline on20 April andthentry to vote you
will be turnedawayfromthe pollingstationonelectionday.Make sure thisdoesn’thappentoyou.”