Postal votes will be key for students as poll falls in exam season A major drive to get university students to register for postal votes is underway following Theresa May’s decision to hold […]

A major drive to get university students to register for postal votes is underway following Theresa May’s decision to hold the general election in the middle of exams season.

Young people aged between 18 and 24 are the least likely age group to vote in general elections, and fears have grown that turnout could be even lower on June 8.

Students groups have concerns that polling day will clash with end of year exams, or come when many have finished their academic year and will be between addresses.

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Significant barriers

The National Union of Students is launching a drive to make sure as many students are registered to vote in an attempt to get as many young people voting as possible.

“There are some significant barriers to students voting in this election: the vote will take place during exam season, when many students will have very little time and students may also have two addresses, a term time address and a home address,” NUS vice president Rob Young said.

“To those students who are concerned about not having time to vote due to exams, I would urge you to register for a postal vote. This will allow you to send your vote off in advance. Don’t miss this crucial opportunity to vote for the future you want to be a part of.”

Young people face bearing the brunt of a range of policies that will be fought over in the forthcoming election, from potentially higher tuition fees and increased student debt, a lack of housing and the impacts of Brexit.

Young people don’t vote

But despite the shock Brexit decision, pollsters believe turnout will remain low among the demographic.

Chris Curtis, a research executive at YouGov, said although there had been a series of unexpected election results, such as the EU referendum and Donald Trump’s presidency, young people are far less likely to vote.

“A number of people have been talking about the rules of politics breaking down in the wake of recent events, but two rules have consistently held up: non-voters don’t vote, and young people don’t vote,” Mr Curtis said.

Young people were far more likely to vote Labour and Liberal Democrat, however, if they were to vote, according to YouGov.

Young Labour is now calling on those who were too young to vote in the EU referendum but since turned 18 to register to vote for the party to oppose the Conservatives’ direction on Brexit.

Tony Diver, 19, a university student from Suffolk, said he supported Ed Miliband in the last election but would not vote Labour under Jeremy Corbyn. “I think the election will be fought primarily, and rightly, over Brexit. I think that’s reflected throughout the student body, as students and universities will deal with the effects of Brexit as much as anyone else,” he said. “Some of my friends voted in favour of Brexit just because they thought it might bring house prices down, so I think they will also be looking for more houses to be built. “Student finance will also be an issue as universities will soon be allowed to charge higher tuition fees, and student loans will be subject to more interest.”