Policy Paper written by Florina-Marieta Neagu (Policy Officer of AEGEE-Europe) with support from the Y Vote 2024 Project Team

“Young people don’t vote, they’re not interested in politics”.

We often hear these words. On the other hand, many young people express that they feel underrepresented by political institutions and believe their voices are rarely reflected in decision-making processes. In 2019, the statistics changed after years of constant decline in the turnout in the European Elections. The voter turnout experienced the largest increase in decades, largely driven by the younger generation of voters across the EU, who defied expectations and participated in greater numbers than in previous elections. This showed their motivation to get involved in the democratic process and contribute to meaningful change. The active participation of young voters not only highlights their commitment to shaping the future of Europe but also signals a renewed interest in electoral engagement among younger demographics, which was expected to be reflected in the 2024 European Elections. […]

The whole paper can be found here.