The music industry has issued an open letter to encourage 18-34 year olds to register to vote before the April 16 deadline for the upcoming UK Mayoral Elections. Although six million young people attended festivals and electronic music events last year, approximately the same amount did not register to vote in the previous Mayoral Election. To combat this, a collective of UK festivals, electronic acts, publications, and nightlife venues have signed the open letter, named “Give an X,” to call upon their communities to register to vote.
Noteworthy signatories on the open letter include Annie Mac, BICEP, AVA Festival, Mixmag, Block9, The Cause, HAAi, and Foundation FM, along with many others. The full letter is available for reading on the Give an X website. The music industry appealed to young people as they have demonstrated their voice in different ways, particularly on social media. The industry believes that young people need to be more involved in the political process by registering to vote and making their voices heard.
The letter encapsulates the message that the people “in power listen to the voters” and therefore it’s vital for the younger demographic to be present and have their say. The aim is to encourage more people to go to the polls and take part in democracy. It is essential for government officials to hear the voices of their constituents, and this can only be achieved if individuals exercise their right to vote.
Despite the social media presence and the collective action present at rallies and festivals, the letter highlights the disconnect between political engagement and young people, present in the lack of voter registration numbers. The music industry hopes that this timely reminder might be instrumental in increasing voter turnout rates and make a meaningful impact in upcoming elections
Read the full article from Mixmag here: Read More