1. Young people are less likely to participate in the political process.
Lesson Starter
Young people are less likely to participate in the political process.
Why do you think this is the case? What could political parties do to improve the situation?

2. Today we will…
Summarise the reasons why people should vote in elections.
Identify the reasons why some people do not vote.

3. Success Criteria
I can categorise, in order of importance, the reasons why people should vote.
I can describe the reasons why people decide not to vote.

4. The Right to Vote The Right to Vote
We have a democratic right in the UK to vote at election time.
However in the UK it is not compulsory that we vote therefore people can choose whether they want to vote or not.
There are a variety of reasons why people argue that we should use our right to vote and there are a variety of reasons why people argue we should not vote.

5. Who are not allowed to Vote?
Those under 16 on the day of the election (for Scottish elections, 18 for UK elections)
Visitors to Britain and non-citizens
Members of the Royal Family
Members of the House of Lords
People with severe mental health problems (sectioned under the mental health act)
Prisoners

6. Voter Turnout: the percentage of people who are registered to vote on election day and who actually turned out to vote.
Think, Pair Share:
Do you think the voter turnout is high? Would you expect it to be higher? What are the reasons for this?
Now share with your partner.

7. Thinking Task Factors affecting turnout-what are they?
In the UK this has been as high as 80% however recent election often fall between 60-65% - why?
Ask pupils to work in pairs to work out what the factors affecting behaviour.

8. Lack of trust of politicians – a major factor – many believe they lie and deceive e.g expenses scandal put a lot of UK citizens ‘off politics’ as they believed MP’s were stealing from the ‘public purse’ and claiming for things they shouldn’t.
Lack of interest in politics - ‘boring’ – many people in the UK are not interested in politics, pay little attention to the news and newspapers therefore show little attention at election time to what parties have to offer in their manifesto’s – people may therefore choose not to vote.
No impact on them – Many people feel that voting has limited impact on their immediate lives – ‘how will voting change my situation e.g. living in poverty?’
The type of election – Many voters decide not to vote in elections that they feel are less important – e.g. the General Election in the UK will always have a higher turnout than local council elections as people view these as less important (40% or less)

9. Reasons to use your Vote
Why Should We Vote?
Your group will be issued with resource sheet 1.
Read it together as a group and discuss
Work together to pick out important information and create individual factfiles on the reasons why people should use their right to vote.
Include as much detail as possible.
Reasons to use your Vote 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Pupils should get individual resource sheets

10. Question: Some people choose not to vote in elections.
Explain, in detail, why some people choose not to vote in elections. You should mention 2 reasons in your answer. (6)
Key Structure
PEE
Make your POINT.
EXPLAIN your point.
Give an EXAMPLE to back up your point
(or ELABORATE further on your point)
PEE X2 (4 marks)
PEE X3 (6 marks)
PEE X4 (8 marks)
Keywords
Lack
Lie
Public
Bored
Broadcasts
Elected
Vote
Leaflets
Expenses
Politics
Age
Parties are all the same

11. Was I successful?
I can categorise, in order of importance, the reasons why people should vote.
I can describe the reasons why people decide not to vote.