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Young attainers not registering to vote in Kent

The number of young people registering to vote has plummeted in Kent, raising concerns they are losing out when it comes to the June poll.

Analysis by the Electoral Reform Society shows that in all of the county’s constituencies, the number of so-called “attainers” - 16-to-17-year-olds - registering has declined dramatically.

Attainers are seen as important as indicators of the potential involvement of young adults in elections before they reach the voting age of 18.

Kent voted to leave the EU by 59% to 41% in the Brexit referendum
Kent voted to leave the EU by 59% to 41% in the Brexit referendum

The ERS figures show that the greatest fall in registrations between 2013 and 2016 was in Tunbridge Wells where it declined 58% over the period.

In 2013, the number was 912 but in 2016 it fell to 383.

There was also a steep drop in South Thanet where the figure slumped 43% from 879 in 2013 to 498 in 2016. Ashford saw a 39% fall from 1206 in 2013 to 737 in 2016.

While there was a decline in all Kent and Medway seats, in some it was more modest. Dartford saw a 10% decline over the period while in neighbouring Gravesham it was 15%.

The three Medway seats all saw a fall of more than 30%.


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The ERS said the figures showed there was a “voter registration time bomb.”

ERS’s chief executive, Katie Ghose, said: "The collapse in the number of 16- and 17-year-olds on the register in 2016 is a warning sign to anyone who cares about political engagement and young people’s stake in our democracy.”

However, there are signs that other initiatives aimed at encouraging young people to register are proving successful.

Voters are heading to the polls
Voters are heading to the polls

There was a spike in young people registering to vote after a Facebook appeal five days ago.

The site showed users a message telling them to make sure they were on the electoral roll.

Almost 7,000 people under 25 registered to vote on the first day alone.

And Uber is urging young people to get involved in the election with pop-up reminder to register to vote on taxi-hailing app.

BLOB: If you are not registered to vote, you will need to register by Monday 22 May in order to vote on June 8.

In England, Scotland and Wales you can register to vote at gov.uk/register-to-vote

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