Got 5? Why we should vote

On the 23rd of May 2019, UK and EU citizens will have the opportunity to vote in the European Parliament elections. It’s a set of elections we never thought would happen, but it now gives us all a chance to express our view on an important issue…

What is the European Parliament?

The European Parliament is the EU’s law-making body and is directly elected by EU voters every 5 years. Members of the European Parliament represent the interest of their citizens and have the power to amend and adopt EU legislation, together with the member state governments in the Council.

Over the past 5 years, the EU has abolished roaming fees, (possibly) saved the bees by banning some of the world’s most used insecticides, targeted reducing single-use plastic, and overhauled our rights to our data, amongst loads of other important issues.

Why should we vote?

Well, I wrote about this earlier this year, but it’s important young people get out the vote. Young people are the group least likely to vote in this election, but also have some of the most different views to the rest of the population. If we don’t vote, the MEPs we elect won’t represent what the UK is really like.

For example, in the 2015 General Election, just 43% of 18–24-year-olds voted, compared with 78% of people aged 65 or over. That’s a massive 35% gap. If young people had turned out in a similar proportion, that would’ve been a massive 2 million extra votes.

Do we really want a UK group of MEPs who don’t really represent our views?

Remember, voting is how we gained education, health, safer work and pensions. We didn’t always have them and we didn’t always have a voice. If you don’t use your vote, odd things can happen.