‘What’s the point?’ Young voters reveal mixed feelings over General Election

The Isle of Man will head to the polls for a General Election this September, with voters set to elect a new House of Keys for the next five-year term.

With new and returning candidates already putting themselves forward across the island’s constituencies, attention is beginning to turn to those who will cast their votes on polling day.

Reporter Sadie Gilbert took to the streets of Douglas to speak to young people about their attitudes towards voting and whether they had registered to have their say in this year’s election.

To vote in the Isle of Man General Election, residents must be aged 16 or over by polling day and be registered to vote.

Twenty-five-year-old Aerin Atkins said she believed she was registered, while 23-year-old Dylan Kelly was less certain.

‘I believe I did it back when I was in high school, but it’s been a long time now.’

Dylan said his interest in this year’s election had partly been encouraged by Aerin’s step-mum, who is involved in the upcoming election.

‘I think I’m kind of encouraged to this time, but I don’t usually vote. It’s not usually something I’m interested in, to be honest,’ he said.

Douglas resident Oliver Hall said he was registered to vote, but admitted he had never previously taken part in an election.

He said: ‘You know what? I’ve actually never voted, so maybe this year’s the year.’

Logan Atkins and Rocky Poole also confirmed they were registered to vote.

However, Rocky said she had mixed feelings about taking part in this year’s election, admitting she had ‘lost a lot of faith’.

She said: ‘I don’t want to say, “what’s the point”, but yeah.’

For more information on postal votes, visit: https://elections.gov.im/information-for-voters/voting-by-post/