When an election comes around, it will be the first time that thousands of young people get the opportunity to head to a polling station for the first time.

If you have registered it is important that you use your vote, a right that other people in the world do not have.

Here are just a few reasons you should consider if you, or someone you know is on the fence around voting:

Your Vote Does Matter

One of the most common arguments is that in the grand scheme of things, your vote won’t matter. Regardless of what anyone else may tell you, it matters.

In areas where one party holds a large majority of votes, it may seem that voting makes little difference, which can be deeply frustrating. However, not voting is the one thing guaranteed to make no difference.

Even if voting will not affect the outcome of the result in an individual constituency, it can influence national votes for the parties. Parties that don’t win can still get their agendas taken seriously by the other parties if the amount of votes they get is high.

Get Politicians Working for Young People

Voter turnout is the percentage of voters that have actually taken part in the election.

Politicians may sometimes consider voter turnout before making key policy decisions. If a certain demographic‘s turnout is high then politicians may be more likely to make policy that benefits that demographic in order to please them and subsequently win their votes or retain their support.

You Deserve To Have a Say in Your Future

Depending on who is voted for in your constituency, it could significantly impact your future. Especially if you are 18 since you will begin to experience significant change in your life over the next few years, moving from school to uni, college or employment.

When you are 18, you will likely be working and paying taxes. As such, you should be able to decide who spends those taxes and who shapes your future.

You Have The Right, Others Don’t

The right to vote shouldn’t be taken for granted. There are other countries that don’t have the right to vote and, as such, don’t have as much opportunity to shape their country’s future and address topics that truly matter to them and the general public.

Many campaigners within movements, such as the women’s suffrage movement, gave their lives to win the right to vote.

Although it’s true voting is not enough on its own to protect freedom, it is a good place to start.

What Happens If You Don’t Vote?

Voting gives you the power to speak out about how you feel the country is being run and support a party representing your views.
It’s your right to have your voice heard through your vote, and voting provides the biggest opportunity to impact the decisions that affect your life 

Young voters will have to live with the consequences of the election for the longest, so it’s important to voice your concerns.