CAMPAIGNERS have long sought to encourage young people to use their right to vote.

According to national figures, only 43 per cent of those aged between 18 to 24 turned out at the ballot box in the 2015 general election.

The turn-out figure increases in line with age group, with the biggest turn-out of 78 per cent in the 65+ age group.

And the numbers are even lower for local elections, with few young people engaging with local democracy.

However, this could be tackled by introducing local government affairs into schools – something that the leader of Herefordshire Council, Councillor Tony Johnson, would support.

He said: “I believe very strongly that it should be a subject at school.

“Quite how it would fit in the curriculum I’m not sure. But it should be covered.

“Because it’s noticeable that whenever you have a local election for councils you’ll get relatively low turn-outs.

“If you get 30 per cent of the population turn out for a local election you’ve really done well.

“But a national election you think it’s a holiday if you get 60 per cent unless there’s some big item coming up.”

The next local election for full council will take place in 2019 and Cllr Johnson believes turnout will struggle to pass the 30 per cent figure with little to suggest that many younger people will be among those voting.

“And that’s quite sad really,” he added.

“Because they’ve got more years to be affected by what we do here than somebody who’s 55.

“The reason that they don’t [teach it in schools], is that it’s assumed to be a bit of a dry subject but it isn’t really because we’re talking about who’s going to spend your money.

“If you went to the same young person and said ‘I need some cash to mend a pothole’ they’d have something to say about that but won’t bother to turn up to vote for or against the person who’s standing for a job with that responsibility in the authority.

"Which is a great shame.”

Don’t miss your opportunity to vote in the June general election.

Go to www.gov.uk/register-to-vote