Question

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what plans there are to ensure a higher turnout at the General Election among people aged 18 to 25.

The Government is committed to maximising electoral registration to help support the highest possible turnout in elections. To ensure this, Government has introduced individual electoral registration (IER). Young people aged 18-25 have been one of the biggest users of online registration to vote since its introduction in June. Since 1 July 2014, 826,265 young people have applied to register online.

The Government has today announced that almost £10 million will be given to local authorities and to national activity to boost the number of people registering to vote around the country. This is in addition to the £4.2 million announced last year.

£6.8 million of the funding being announced today has been allocated to local authorities so that they can expand their programmes of canvassing and other activities aimed at encouraging people in their areas to register to vote. Up to £2.5 million will be used to fund wider activity, including working with national organisations to encourage groups who are not as well represented on the electoral register in general, such as young people including students and overseas voters.