Pam Cameron: "Young people are voting for their future!"

Pam Cameron, South Antrim DUP MLA, has spoken out about the impact of young people in politics and the important role they play as young voters. As a member of one of the largest political parties in Northern Ireland, Cameron emphasises the value placed on young people and their voices. “At least 95% of politics is about everyday services, it’s important for young people to engage with this and make their opinions known”.

Although the DUP “primarily receives the older vote” in South Antrim, Cameron believes that the Party represents all ages and generations. When discussing the DUP’s assurance to providing for younger voters, she states that “I think we, as a Party, do this best because we have moved forward following Northern Ireland’s history; we now look at all the bread and butter issues, such as our health service and education, that are important to and for young people both now and in the future.”

“I feel that it’s more important for people, especially young people, to be well, to be educated and to have jobs than it is to keep going over the past and what has been, we should be thankful for where we are and how far we’ve come”, continued Cameron.

As voter turnout rates in Northern Ireland currently rest at around 50%, Cameron feels that if more young people were to vote it could “completely change the voting patterns”. After voicing her confusion as to why there are high numbers of non-voters who are young people; she concluded, stating her belief that “sometimes young people tend to think that politics is not something they want to be involved in”.

Despite the importance of “need[ing] a good mix of age ranges” in voters, Cameron furthered that she believes the current voting age (18) “is young enough to be voting for the first time” due to the “bit of life experience needed behind you” before casting such an important vote. “Young people are voting for their future… It’s important that they know what they want”.