A think-tank report called for the voting age to be lowered from 18 to 16.
Source: Richard Reeves and Thishani Nadesan, The New Frontier: Votes at 16, Demos
Links: Report | Summary | BBC report
Date: 2010-Apr
A think-tank report said that the failure of the political debate to adequately discuss problems such as long-term economic recovery, climate change, the care gap, and communities under strain was turning young people away from politics – despite evidence that many were passionate about politics and social issues.
Source: Celia Hannon and Charlie Tims, An Anatomy of Youth, Demos and V
Links: Report | Summary | Demos press release | Children & Young People Now report
Date: 2010-Apr
A new book examined how ethnic minorities had exercised their political rights, and changing trends of political participation among ethnic minorities.
Source: Muhammad Anwar, Ethnic Minorities and Politics: The British electoral system, LAP Lambert Academic Publishing
Links: Summary | Warwick University press release
Date: 2010-Jan
The British Social Attitudes survey found that only just over one-half (56 per cent) of people agreed that 'it's everyone's duty to vote', down from two-thirds (68 per cent) in 1991.
Source: Sarah Butt and John Curtice, 'Duty in decline? Trends in attitudes to voting', in British Social Attitudes: The 26th Report, SAGE Publications
Links: Summary | NatCen press release | BBC report | Guardian report
Date: 2010-Jan