Many young people will take part in the European elections on Sunday: This is shown by the current survey “Your vote counts” by YEP – Voice of the Youth.
Vienna (OTS) – 60% of respondents between the ages of 14 and 30 want to vote on Sunday. Of the young people who are eligible to vote for the first time, 66% say that they want to take part in the EU elections.
Reasons for young people not to vote:
A third (34%) of young people who don’t vote say “I don’t know what I’m doing” as the reason. First-time voters are particularly affected by this lack of knowledge: 37% of them say that they are not voting or are not yet sure because they do not know enough. The second reason why young people do not vote in the EU elections is that no party represents their political concerns.
Linda Exenberger, managing director of YEP, emphasizes: “Our experience shows that young people are by no means uninterested in politics, but there is too little information that is understandable for young people. Many young people have the feeling that politicians primarily pursue their own interests and would like the concerns of young people to be taken more into account
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Alena Petric, student and YEP ambassador for the project, appeals to all young people: “Especially today, we young people know how important democracy is and that we have to work to preserve it. Therefore: Use your voice, get informed, go vote and have your say!
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Project: Your vote counts – the electoral program of the independent youth
As part of the project “Your vote counts – the youth election program” Young people have the opportunity to formulate their own political demands and bring them into the public debate. The participation process aims to pass on the voices of young people directly to political decision-makers in the super election year of 2024 and to promote concrete measures in the interests of young people.
In one Online survey Over 1,200 young people have already made their ideas and concerns known. From June 11th, the project will enter the second phase: Using a second online survey, YEP will work with young people to develop the specific demands for the independent youth election program. This will be sent to the parties before the National Council election to ensure that the interests of young people are heard in politics.
Questions & Contact:
We would be happy to put you in touch with independent young people and first-time voters for interviews or to provide quotes.
If you have any further inquiries, we will be happy to address them.
Julia Unteregger
Communication YEP Voice of Youth
j.unteregger@yep-austria.org
0043 677 623 19059
Pictures and videos of the project are available on our website: https://www.yep-austria.org/presse
The survey can be found at: https://yep-austria.involve.me/wahlprogramm-der-jugend