'Many young people don't know elections are happening'

Mary Kiusa is a student at Coventry University

Lack of awareness and candidates failing to connect - there are many reasons why young people fail to vote in local elections.

With days to go until polls open, BBC Radio CWR asked four students at Coventry University what matters to them.

Turnout was just 32% at local elections across the country last year – but it was even lower in Coventry, where just 26% of the electorate voted.

The students all said they would be voting in this year's local election and discussed reasons for apathy among their peers.

'I am grateful we are given a platform to participate'

“I feel like the youth do not vote because there’s less engagement of them, currently, when it comes to the voting process,” says Mary Kiusa, 27.

“I feel like if there was more engagement maybe the turnout - the participation of youth actually voting – can increase over time.

“I also feel like the use of social media is not used [enough] to create awareness about the voting process.”

Mary says she feels candidates do not talk about issues which matter to young people. The key things for her are sustainability and wellbeing.

She hopes for a "platform or somewhere that youth can have a voice and be listened to on the issues they actually are facing, and feel like they are actually being listened [to] and being taken into consideration".

“Those issues, in turn, could be solved at the end of the day," she says.

Mary says she will be casting a vote this week.

“As an international student I am so grateful that we are given a platform to actually participate in the voting process."

'If they want to change things, they must vote'

Akhil Sha works at the students' union at Coventry University

“I think young people should vote in elections - they must know what happens around them as well as what’s happening around the government,” says Akhil Sha.

“They must know about things happening like policy changes, what are the law changes affecting the students and young people.”

It will directly affect their livelihood, he adds. “If they want to change it, they must vote.”

He says he did not vote last year as he wasn’t aware he was able to do so, as an international student.

But, he says, he will “definitely” be voting in the coming local elections.

'Many topics are aimed at the older generation'

Daniel Sherrington is a former student at Coventry University

“I think younger people don’t vote in the elections because some people don’t know about the elections going on, and I think that’s down to how they promote them,” says Daniel Sherrington, 23.

“I think the use of social media, even just posting on Instagram, would engage more young people in what’s going on.

“Younger people might not care about what’s being voted on because a lot of the topics are aimed towards the older generation and maybe they’re just not interested in the changes that are going to be made – depending on who gets in.”

He says he will vote because he wants to have a say on environmental issues where he lives.

'Every single vote matters'

Hayath Aman says voting can change the future

“Every single vote matters,” according to 18-year-old Hyath Aman.

Voting can change the future, affect livelihoods and change lives, he says.

He believes it has an impact on how communities are structured.

This year will be his first time voting.

“I’ve never had a chance to vote, because I just turned 18 this year, but I think you can change people’s lives.

“I can support people – it’s just one vote but it can change a lot.”