Why are teenagers not voting in Jersey?

Sixteen-year-olds have been able to vote in elections in Jersey since 2008 but turnout amongst 16-35 year olds at the last election was only 22%.

Jersey is part of a small but growing list of countries where 16 year olds can vote and the BBC has been speaking to 16–18 year olds about their reasons for not voting.

Dr Chris Pich, a professor at Nottingham University business school, said more needed to be done in the classroom to educate young people about Jersey politics.

In the UK 16-year-olds will be able to vote for the first time at the next general election.

Georgia White, who is part of the youth advisory group to the children's commissioner, said academic pressures played a part in low voter turnout amongst teenagers.

Georgia said: "I'm 18 and I'm in the middle of my A-levels, most 16, 17, 18 year olds they are really busy with exams and they just don't think they have enough time to look into the election or look into the candidates.

"And people who are going to university they think voting won't help them if they aren't going to be here.

"I've spoken to a lot of my friends they just don't think its worth it if they aren't going to be on island.

"Obviously we would love to change Jersey for the better for those still here or if we come back, but its not helpful at this moment in time so that's why people aren't willing to vote or put the time in."

Alex Lincoln, 17, said he was not going to vote because he did not feel well informed.

He said: "I just don't know very much about it, so I don't feel I should vote if I don't know very much about it.

"From the people I know that are my age, they shouldn't be allowed to vote because they don't have a clue to be honest."

Lily Glendewar, 17, said she was not sure if she would vote: "I've not had a chance to look over the people that I would be voting for, so I probably won't be voting."

However, Lily said she was glad voting at 16 was in place in Jersey.

"I think its good people have access to it at this age if they are interested but they shouldn't vote if they don't know anything about it because then it's a useless vote."

The BBC also spoke to 17 year old Izzie Vowden and her grandma, Izzie said she would be voting for the first time at the election.

"We have had some people come to our school and tell us to vote and that's made a difference.

"I think it's a good idea they allow people to vote at 16 because everyone should have a say."

Her grandma Eileen Vowden agreed it was a good idea: "I do, but we don't see many of the young people at 16 coming out, but we need them to."

Dr Chris Pich, a professor at Nottingham University business school, said education was key to improving voter turnout amongst teenagers and young people.

He said: "I'm not saying it's the teacher's responsibility but education has a responsibility.

"Making sure young people know how to vote, the process of voting, they need to understand that they have their own political institutions, their own parliament and I was surprised when doing my own research that young people were puzzled: 'Do we have our own parliament? Do we have our own chief minister?'"

However, local education consultant Colin Lever had a different view, he said politicians had a responsibility to talk about the issues that mattered to young people.

He said: "They presume by building a park, a skate park that's all 16 year olds are interested in, have they ever considered that young people have parents and grandparents and they are concerned about the impact of the cost of living on their family.

"They have a voice, its about engaging with them and giving them that voice."

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