72% of young people in Wales want more democratic education in school

The Electoral Commission has today published research on young people’s attitudes to voting across Wales and the UK. The Young Voices on Democracy report found that just 14% of young people in Wales aged 11-25 were aware of the upcoming Senedd election on 7 May. Despite being eligible to vote in this election, 16-17 year olds in Wales record the lowest willingness to vote across all four UK nations.

Just over half of young people in Wales reported a lack of confidence in voting, and a third said this was due to a lack of knowledge about how to vote. Findings show strong interest from young people in learning more about democracy and taking part when they feel informed, with 72% saying they want more democratic education taught in school. However, just 21% have learnt about politics in school in the last year, which is significantly lower than the UK average. Parental interest and socio-economic background also influence levels of knowledge and interest amongst young people.

The research also shows concern among young people about the information currently available to them. 41% say they see fake political information at least once a week, and 64% are concerned about its impact. The research found that young people are more likely to hear about politics from social media than at school or college.  

The Electoral Commission’s annual ‘Welcome to Your Vote Week’ aims to tackle these challenges. During 9 – 16 March, schools, colleges and youth groups across Wales are running lessons, activities and events to help young people understand how they can participate in the Senedd election on 7 May.  

Fatima Sheikh, aged 16, Member of the Electoral Commission’s Youth Voice Network for Wales, said:

"Welcome to Your Vote Week is an amazing chance for young people’s voices to be heard and to become active in politics. It lets us learn new things and meet a mix of people with similar and different opinions, which can create a friendly space for conversation.  

“The adults who make decisions on behalf of all of us have a huge impact on our everyday lives, so it’s really important that young people understand how democracy works and how to get involved. It helps bridge the gap between becoming eligible to vote and actually feeling ready to take part in elections."  

The theme of ‘Welcome to Your Vote Week’ 2026 is Why voting matters. To support the initiative, the Electoral Commission has produced new educational resources in partnership with the Senedd, The Politics Project and the Children’s Commissioner for Wales to help improve young people’s understanding of the importance of voting and the Senedd.  

Educators and young people who want to take part in ‘Welcome to Your Vote Week’ can access the free resources from the Electoral Commission website.  

Ends

For more information contact Ella Griffiths-Downing, Senior Communications Adviser on 029 2034 6824 or [email protected].  

Notes to editors

  • Research conducted by BMG Research on behalf of the Electoral Commission with 2,501 individuals aged 11 to 25 in the UK including 417 from Wales.
  • 14- and 15-year-olds in Wales can register to vote as attainers, meaning that if they turn 16 before or on the day of the next election, they will be able to vote.
  • Register to vote by visiting www.gov.uk/registertovote. The registration deadline for the Senedd election is 11:59pm on Monday 20 April. The Senedd building in Cardiff Bay will be lit up with the registration deadline on the evening of Wednesday 11 March and we will have spokespeople available for interview.
  • The Youth Voice Network for Wales is facilitated by Children in Wales. Children in Wales is a non-partisan organisation which campaigns for and facilitates full implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in Wales.   
  • The Electoral Commission is the independent body which oversees elections and regulates political finance in the UK. We work to promote public confidence in the democratic process and ensure its integrity by:
  • enabling the delivery of free and fair elections and referendums, focusing on the needs of electors and addressing the changing environment to ensure every vote remains secure and accessible
  • regulating political finance – taking proactive steps to increase transparency, ensure compliance and pursue breaches
  • using our expertise to make and advocate for changes to our democracy, aiming to improve fairness, transparency and efficiency
  • The Commission was set up in 2000 and reports to the UK, Welsh and Scottish Parliaments.