How democracy is a verb: my experience at the Pathways to Votes at 16 event

Hello, I am Cadessa, and I am an intern with Partnership for Young London through the Civic Leadership Academy, run by King’s College London.

If I could describe the Pathways to Vote at 16 Conference in three words, they would be: innovative, exciting, and proactive.

On Thursday 18 June, I had the privilege of attending the Pathways to Vote at 16 Conference, which focused on the introduction of the new youth policy that makes 16-year-olds eligible to vote and on how we, as a sector, will promote effective political literacy in order to equip young people. This event brought together professionals, academics, and community voices to discuss its aims, challenges, and potential impacts.

The conference was structured around three presentations, followed by discussions. Callum from London Councils highlighted a major shift in the political landscape. A key concern was how to help young people feel empowered during this time of political ambiguity in London and ensure they are knowledgeable enough to participate in politics, especially when many feel under-informed. James’ presentation (from Royal Holloway University) emphasised the importance of voting and explored the challenges of politics in a hostile environment. The Politics Project by Democracy Classroom stressed the importance of preparing for votes at 16, which could happen as early as the 2028 election. Schools and colleges cannot solely be responsible for democratic education, so collaboration between formal education and informal youth spaces is essential. Their organisation shared resources for 'gamifying' democracy, along with teaching materials that can help equip young people to become more politically literate.

Not only did this event bring together shared perspectives on how we can help young people prepare to vote at 16, but it also provided resources to strengthen our collective efforts. The active contributions of young people from Lewisham demonstrated that they want to get involved. This was exciting because it showed the importance of actively listening to and collaborating with young people in our decision-making.

Across the discussions, there was a strong emphasis on making democracy part of everyday life. Engagement must be genuine rather than performative. Democracy was once framed as a system, but it is, in truth, an active practice; democracy is a verb. We even discussed political literacy from primary school onwards to ensure young people understand what politics is. What is democracy? What is the very thing that affects everyone, regardless of age, in their everyday lives?

To be immersed in a room full of intellectuals, all sharing the same drive to uplift young people and ensure their voices are heard, was an exciting experience. Although Vote at 16 was the focal point, we could not help but discuss another emerging and contentious issue: the potential social media ban for under-16s. Questions around access to information and staying connected in digital spaces sparked a divide of opinion in the room. Reflecting on this, the social media ban for under-16s will remain a topic of controversy, with diverse opinions on its benefits and drawbacks.

To conclude, the Pathways to Vote at 16 Conference was highly informative. It is exciting that this work is happening, but it was also a crucial reminder that we, as a sector, have a collective responsibility to help prepare young people. Let us act. Reach out to your networks, engage with youth voices, and partner in developing political literacy. Together, we can empower the next generation to fully participate in our democracy. Let’s all take action and promote collective accountability.