April 19, 2026 - 240 views
Young people in Wales are being urged to engage with the democratic process ahead of the upcoming Senedd election, amid concerns that awareness and participation remain worryingly low.
The 2021 election marked a historic shift, with 16 and 17-year-olds given the right to vote for the first time — a move widely seen as a major step forward in broadening democratic participation. However, despite that progress, recent research suggests many young people are still not tuned in to Welsh politics.
A poll by the Electoral Commission found that just 14% of 11 to 25-year-olds were aware of the upcoming election, raising concerns about how effectively key information is reaching younger audiences.
The findings also highlight a wider issue around political education. While 72% of those surveyed said they would like to learn more about how democracy works in school, only 21% reported having received any form of political education in the past year.
This election brings significant changes that could further impact engagement. Voters will be navigating new constituency boundaries, an expanded Senedd with more members, and a revised voting system — reforms designed to make representation more proportional and reflective of Wales as a whole.
Despite an increase in accessible information online and through campaigns, there are questions over whether that is cutting through, particularly for younger voters balancing education, work, and the wider pressures of modern life.
There are also broader challenges at play. Trust in politics, competing global issues, and the way younger generations consume information — often through social media rather than traditional outlets — all contribute to lower engagement levels.
Efforts have been made in recent years to address this gap. Initiatives encouraging voter registration, youth-focused debates, and school outreach programmes have all been rolled out, but the data suggests more needs to be done to connect with younger audiences in a meaningful way.
With polling day approaching, attention is turning to whether the policies and priorities being put forward by parties will resonate strongly enough to motivate young people to take part — and ultimately shape the future direction of Wales.
The deadline for registering to vote is rapidly approaching. To participate, potential voters must complete the online registration process by Monday 20th April at 11.59pm.
