Democratic-Audit_Election-information_report2

Engaging young voters with enhanced election information | Richard Berry & Patrick DunleavyWe would make the following recommendations, aimed at increasingengagement among the electorate, particularly young people, throughenhanced election information and other measures:The Cabinet Office, government and Electoral Commission shouldurgently review the easy-access online provision of election informationbefore all forms of UK elections, and the timely online provision ofelection results after voting, with the aim of achieving common androbust standards across all elections and radical improvements in digitalaccess by the 2015 general election.These bodies also consider how integrated, comprehensive sources ofelection results can encourage the easy development of voting andparticipation apps (on phones and PCs) by the widest possible range ofmedia, charities, NGOs, universities and parties.A large-scale local experiment with online and weekend voting should beorganized as soon as feasible.Lowering the voting age to 16 is a low-risk measure. It could offer manyadvantages in engaging young voters while they are still at home, andcompensate for some adverse by-product implications of five yearParliaments for young people’s opportunities to participate.4