Young voters
What young people think is important in the run-up
to the General Election on 7th May 2015
6,345 young people in Great Britain aged between 18 and 24 years were questioned online
about their political attitudes and opinions in the biggest survey of its kind.
Registering to vote
Interest in politics
The process has changed since the last election,
meaning that everyone now has to register
themselves on the electoral register.
Although 60% of young people say that they
care who wins the General Election, just 34% say
they are personally interested in politics.
50%
of the young people surveyed hadn’t
registered to vote at the time of the survey.
Importance of voting
Likelihood of voting
NB Figures may not add up to 100% due to rounding
Don't know
(7%)
Don't know
(29%)
Not likely
to vote
(24%)
It IS important
to vote
(63%)
It is NOT
important
to vote
(9%)
Just
Likely to vote
(69%)
26% say
they are
certain
to vote
Main reason why you would be unlikely to vote
Don't know enough about
the candidates and issues
(Base: respondents not likely to vote)
30%
Politics isn't for people like me
16%
There's no point as my
vote won't make a difference
12%
None of the parties
offer anything I like
10%
All the parties are the same
8%
The result won't affect me
8%
Don't have the time
7%
Other
5%
None of the above
5%
Find out more: www.completeissues.co.uk
Which of these policies would be important to you when
choosing who to vote for in the next election?
(More than one answer could be given)
Managing the NHS
49%
Keeping down the
cost of everyday items
ie food, energy and travel
40%
32%
Controlling immigration
28%
Reducing university tuition fees
26%
Promoting UK economic growth
Making sure that the benefits
of economic growth are felt by all
23%
Increasing the use of
renewable energies
16%
Increasing funding for
mental health care provisions
15%
Restricting the use
of zero hour contracts
13%
Protecting online privacy
11%
Increasing funding for
youth services
11%
Reducing the amount of
unpaid internships
8%
Taking a softer
approach on drugs
8%
Don't know
7%
Which would you say comes closest
to your opinion?
Politicians generally do a:
GOOD job of representing the views and
interests of young people 11%
BAD job of representing the views and
interests of young people 57%
Don’t know
32%
Find out more: www.completeissues.co.uk
Which of the following is the most important in helping
you decide who to vote for?
What their national policies are
31%
The leader I think will
make the best Prime Minister
16%
What their polices are on local issues
16%
The party I most closely associate with
16%
Who the local candidate is
5%
13%
Dont know
None of these
5%
Do you agree or disagree with the following statements?
Agree
Agree
Disagree
Disagree
Don't know
Don't know
Politics is an effective way to make a difference to the country
64%
64%
18%
18%
18%
18%
Celebrities should not get involved in politics
30%
30%
51%
51%
19%
19%
Voting is an important part of being involved in society
69%
69%
16%
16%
15%
15%
My parents will probably vote for the same party that I will at the next General Election
35%
35%
27%
27%
37%
37%
The outcome of the next General Election will make a difference to the future of Great Britain
64%
64%
15%
15%
NB Figures may not add up to 100% due to rounding
Find out more: www.completeissues.co.uk
22%
22%
Would the following make you more or less likely to vote,
or would it make no difference?
More likely to vote
More likely to vote
No difference
No difference
Less likely to vote
Less likely to vote
Don't know
Don't know
Being able to vote online or by using an app
24% 6%
24% 6%
63%
63%
7%
7%
Having a ‘none of the above’ option on the ballot paper
(ie a way of expressing dissatisfaction with all the candidates)
34%
34%
44%
44%
10%
10%
12%
12%
Being able to vote by text message
49%
49%
How much do you think the result
of the general election will
affect your day-to-day life?
A great deal
12%
A fair amount 37%
Not very much 32%
Not at all Don’t know 8%
11%
34%
34%
9%
9%
8%
8%
Which of the following leaders
would you most like to see
running the country?
22%
Ed Miliband: Labour Party
16%
Natalie Bennett: Green Party
12%
Nigel Farage: UK Independence Party (UKIP) 9%
Nick Clegg: Liberal Democrats
7%
Don’t know
35%
David Cameron: Conservative Party
Source: Comres for Radio 1 Newsbeat www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/31822531
www.comres.co.uk/polls/bbc-newsbeat-18-24-year-olds-political-survey
Find out more: www.completeissues.co.uk