5.4 Supporting young people to vote

Helping young people feel confident about voting is about making the process feel manageable, relevant and doable. Many first-time voters are unsure of the practical steps involved. As a youth practitioner, you’re in a great position to demystify the process and turn uncertainty into action.

Talk through the options
Explain the three ways to vote: in person, by post, or by proxy. Help young people decide what works best for them, based on their plans and preferences.

Support registration
Young people can register to vote from 16 (or 14 in Scotland). Build this into your sessions – go to gov.uk/register-to-vote together and support them step by step.

Check voter ID
In most of the UK, photo ID is now needed to vote in person. Many young people don’t have this yet, so help them check what’s accepted and apply for free voter ID if needed.

Make a plan
Encourage young people to think ahead:

• When will they vote?
• Where is their polling station?
• Do they have ID?
• Will they go with a friend?

Voting is simple – but only if you know that. A few small actions can make all the difference.