Young people's views on politics and voting 2026

The research shows that young people value democracy and want to engage with politics, but opportunities to build their political knowledge and confidence are unequal. The research highlights how young people’s engagement with democracy is shaped by:

• their access to democratic education
• their family background
• information sources

Most young people believe politics affects their everyday lives and think it is important to live in a democracy. But only a minority receive consistent political education at school. As a result, social media often becomes a more important source of political information.

This is despite recognising it as less reliable than other information sources and being concerned about misinformation.  

Our findings point to the importance of strengthening democratic education for young people. Schools and colleges can play a vital role in supporting all young people - regardless of background - to develop the knowledge, confidence, and skills needed to participate in democracy and navigate political information effectively. 

What we found

Young people value democracy and want to participate in it. Most say it is important to live in a democratic country and the majority believe politics affects their everyday life.

However, opportunities to develop political knowledge and confidence are unequally accessed. Our research shows that engagement with politics is strongly influenced by family background and parental interest in politics.
 

81% of young people see living in a democracy as important

Democratic education is inconsistent

Only around three in ten young people under 18 say they have heard about politics at school or college in the past year, despite schools being one of the most trusted sources of political information for young people. When pupils do learn about it, it tends to be in isolated activities or optional subjects rather than a consistent offer for all.

At the same time, demand for democratic education is high. Nearly four in five young people think politics should be taught more in schools. Young people most commonly say they want to understand:

• how voting makes a difference
• what political parties stand for
• how voting works in practice

30% of those aged 18 and under say they have learnt about politics in school or college

Family influence also plays a significant role

When adults are at home are interested in politics, young people are much more likely to be interested themselves. Discussion about politics at home helps build early familiarity and confidence. Speaking to family members is one of the main ways young people hear about politics - particularly in households where parents are politically engaged.

Socio-economic background influences engagement

Young people from more advantaged households are more likely to:

• be interested in politics
• take part in civic activities
• learn about politics through school subjects

Young people who are already interested in politics - often influenced by discussion at home - are more likely to choose subjects where politics is covered in greater depth. This helps those with early exposure to keep building knowledge and confidence while others miss out.

What we found

Social media is the most common place young people encounter political information. More than half say they have seen or heard about politics through social media in the past year.

However, young people trust political information on social media less than information from:

• schools
• family
• traditional media

Many young people encounter political content passively through suggested content and algorithms rather than actively searching for information.

Nearly half of young people say they see fake political information at least weekly, and most express concern about misinformation. Confidence in identifying reliable information online is mixed, and only around one third recall being taught how to spot false or misleading information at school.

Young people who are already interested in politics are more likely to actively seek information and develop stronger media literacy skills. Those with less exposure to politics may still encounter political content online but may feel less confident judging whether it is accurate or trustworthy.
 

48% of young people routinely encounter fake political information, and most are worried about it

What we found

Interest and self-reported knowledge in politics increase as young people approach adulthood and experience how political decisions affect their lives, including those related to:

• employment
• finances
• housing
• education

Most young people say they would vote to make their voice heard or to influence decisions affecting future generations. Young people who feel disengaged often say politics feels distant, confusing, or unlikely to make a difference.

Exposure to politics through:

• education
• family discussion
• trusted information sources

helps young people understand how politics affects their lives and increases confidence in participating. 

As an independent body that oversees elections in the UK, we are working to ensure that all young people have access to impartial democratic education, so everyone can cast their first vote with confidence.

We provide education resources for use in both formal and informal education settings to support young people to learn more about the UK’s democracy and their own vote, and to develop the skills they need to participate fully.

We have recently launched a new democratic education programme in collaboration with expert partner organisations. The work intends to:  

• help prepare young people ahead of the UK Government’s plans to lower the voting age to 16 by increasing their knowledge and understanding of democracy and elections
• support educators to feel confident teaching about the topic by providing accurate and impartial resources and training    

We have also recommended changes to the curriculum, supported by the democratic education sector, which would ensure the right support is in place to prepare young people to engage in our elections for the first time.  

If you’d like to discuss our education work, please get in touch at [email protected]