Economic, social and educational inequality are key reasons for decreasing voter turnout, and won’t be fixed by online voting, says a Massey University political scientist.
“We’re not simply going to turn a whole bunch of young people, many – but not all – of whom are asking very serious questions about the political system generally, into voting citizens purely by changing the technology,” says Professor Richard Shaw
Massey has released details of a survey, conducted by academics and students from the university’s Politics Programme, targeted 18-24 year old students to gauge their attitudes to the upcoming general election.
Political parties are not doing a great job at engaging young people, says, even with many more tools to reach people. “You can broadcast your not-very-coolness on a [large] scale” on social media, he says
“When there are big issues, when there are seismic events on the horizon, when the political context is very close, that motivates people,” he says.
The Wireless held a panel discussion to talk about the importance of voting - or not - this week. Find out more here.
Professor Shaw says Massey’s research has some warning bells, especially that having surveyed students – a group researchers would expect to be highly motivated – only about 80 percent confirmed they would vote, and of them, about 40 per cent said they didn’t vote last time around. “We know that voting is habit-forming. You become a serial voter or a serial non-voter depending on whether you get out and vote the first time you have the opportunity to do so.”
