Researchers from University College London have launched a project to understand young people’s perceptions of voting in Jersey. Hazel Stutz and Dr Francois Sicard will conduct two focus groups with local 18-24 year-olds to gather their views and experiences of Jersey elections. They are keen to hear from Gen Z Islanders whether or not they have voted before. Participants in the research will help to create a questionnaire which will be distributed to a broader audience of the same age group.
The focus group sessions will be held in St. Helier and are scheduled for Thursday 12 December and Saturday 14 December.
Anyone in Jersey who is eligible to vote and is aged between 18 and 24 years old is encouraged to register to take part by answering this short survey: https://bit.ly/49knHeH. Individuals selected to join a focus group will receive a £50 voucher for a local retailer in exchange for 2 hours of their time and input.
Hazel Stutz, researcher, said: “Involving young Islanders as co-creators in the initial stages of the research is vital. Their input will mean we can produce a questionnaire for a larger group which is authentic and relatable. It doesn’t matter whether or not you have voted in a previous election in Jersey. We’d like to hear about young people’s general perceptions and experiences of voting or any conversations they might have had about voting in an educational or an informal setting.”
Head of Digital and Public Engagement, Jenny O’Brien, said: “We know from previous elections that young people in Jersey are typically less likely to vote than older Islanders and we’re determined to change that and empower youth voters. Vote.je is excited to support this research project and we look forward to seeing what recommendations are made to help us engage and encourage Jersey’s next generation of voters to turnout like never before in 2026 and beyond.”