Low Turnout: Young Europeans Unlikely to Vote in Upcoming EU Elections, Despite Pro-European Stance

Young people across Europe will have the opportunity to vote in upcoming European elections on Sunday, June 9. Despite this exciting prospect, research from the European opinion research tool “eupinions” by the Bertelsmann Foundation suggests that young people’s motivation to vote is lower than that of older populations. According to the survey, only 59% of respondents aged 16-25 across the EU plan to vote, while 24% are still undecided. This compares to 65% of respondents between 26 and 69 years old who have decided to vote, with 22% remaining undecided.

Despite their pro-European stance compared to older citizens, young people seem less inclined to participate in elections. While a significant percentage of young Europeans are in favor of their country remaining in the EU in a referendum, their motivation to vote remains low overall. However, they show higher satisfaction with democratic processes within the EU compared to older respondents.

Anne Meisiek and Etienne Höra from the Bertelsmann Foundation emphasize the importance of young people engaging in policies that affect them. They stress the significance of voting, reaching out to elected officials, and participating in political parties and civil society organizations to influence EU policy decisions. The data also shows that there is no significant protest sentiment among young people in Germany leading up to the elections, with only a small percentage citing a desire to vote as a form of protest.

Interestingly, young people prioritize different policy areas than older generations. Both groups agree on peace as a fundamental EU objective but give higher importance to issues related to civil rights and climate change. Migration is another divisive topic among different age groups; older respondents place more emphasis on EU management of immigration compared to younger individuals who view it as less central an issue.

Overall, despite young people’s pro-European stance and interest in certain policy areas, their motivation to participate in elections remains low compared to older populations. It is crucial for policymakers and civil society organizations