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The youth vote could be the decider in the upcoming referendum on MMP, with current enrolment rates in the 18-24 demographic so low that they could prove critical in MMP’s tight contest to remain as New Zealand’s election system.


Only 50.17% of youth aged 18 to 24 are enrolled to vote in North Dunedin, says Dee Vickers, Registrar of Electors for North and South Dunedin. That means if an election were held tomorrow, around half of the student population would be unable to vote, even if they wanted to.
 
Compared to other demographics, with the exception of the 25-29 year old group, youth enrolment and turnout rates are exceptionally low with the rest “in the 90 [percent range]”. Vickers added that North Dunedin enrolments have traditionally always been low.
 
Associate Professor Janine Hayward from the Department of Politics says there are many factors that contribute to such a low enrolment rate. “One [reason] is that the policies debated at election time don't seem very relevant to students' lives and there is little incentive for candidates to try to engage the student vote.”
 
This year’s referendum on whether or not to retain the MMP system will be held in conjunction with the 2011 General Election later this year on Saturday, November 26.
 
The contentious MMP debate could be decided by those who are yet to enrol. A poll conducted by ShapeNZ in late 2009 found support for MMP at only 37.5%, with opposition at 46.6% and undecided voters at 11.9%. Over the past two years these figures have been relatively close, with the polls showing a shift in support favouring MMP. The latest poll by UMR research, conducted just a few weeks ago, puts support for MMP at 50%, with those against at 40% and 10% unsure.
 
Hayward highlights why it’s important for young people to vote in this referendum. “Youth voters should not let the older voters dominate the decision about which electoral system will be used in the future.”
 
The electoral office have been working hard to get more young people involved, with a campaign during O-Week and the recent dispatch of over 3 million enrolment update packs to those already enrolled to ensure their details are correct.
 
In previous years “Rock and Enrol” parties have been held, which was an initiative targeted at getting more young people enrolled. However, Vickers points out that “when alcohol is involved, [students] are just not interested” adding that “[students] are there for the rocking and not the enrolling.”