General Election 2024: Northern Ireland first-time voters on what next week's poll means to them

With only days left in this UK General Election campaign, how are some of Northern Ireland's first time voters feeling ahead of the July 4th poll?

At the last election in 2019, just over 50% of those aged 18-24 cast a vote, according to the independent British Election Study while Northern Ireland had the lowest turnout across the UK at 61.8%.

With many young people going to the polls for the first time next week, Belfast Live asked two of them about the issues that mattered most to them and why casting their first vote means so much.

READ MORE: Full list of candidates running in the General Election in Northern Ireland

READ MORE: Northern Ireland's five key election battlegrounds for UK General Election 2024

For Iona, 18, from Newtownards who will be casting her vote in the North Down constituency, the issues that matter most to her are improved healthcare, greater community engagement and full political representation.

Alongside John, also 18 and from East Belfast, Iona is living in a constituency where the vote is expected to be particularly close, They will both be voting and are urging others of their age to do the same.

Iona said: "We have a democratic right to be able to vote and as a woman, women fought for our right to vote and a lot of people were injured and died for this ability.

"It's important to take that into consideration, express my opinion and participate in the conversation of politics and even if my one vote isn't going to make a huge difference, I'm excited to say I partook in democracy."

Meanwhile John told us: "For a lot of first time voters and people around our age, when we look at our government, we think it's quite unstable and crashes a lot.

"In parliamentary elections, a lot of people care about seeing people elected who want to work in government and do their best to try and improve society here rather than just take up their time squabbling.

"Most seats in NI are quite safe and have tended to vote for the same parties over and over but there are some like my own in Belfast East that are on a sharp knife edge where it could go either way.

"I've always been very interested in politics and fascinated by what goes on, it's something that I feel is quite important for me to have my say and make sure I participate in the whole process."

Iona added: "I've found among my own peers that a lot of young people are somewhat apolitical or apathetic to politics so I'd encourage them to look into the policies of their local candidates and see what they want and what they're passionate about.

"A lot of young people vote along the lines of their parents, so taking that time to inform yourself is really helpful. If you have things you're passionate about that you think the government should be focusing on, why would you not want to speak up about it?

"It's one step to go to a polling station and place an X on a card for someone you'd like to represent you. I'm really looking forward to casting my vote and was very excited to receive my first polling card - I've even joked about framing it!" she added.

John and Iona are part of the Belfast YMCA's Youth in Government programme. The groundbreaking political education project has just celebrated 26 years of engaging young people in politics. Over the course of five months, 30 young individuals aged 16-18 delve into crucial political issues expected to shape the next two decades.

Through debates with politicians and discussions with experts in areas such as climate change, fact-checking and mental health they gained valuable insights into the complexities of contemporary politics. Moreover, they explored their own identities and engaged in discussions about politics spanning across the island of Ireland and the UK.

Peter McNiece, the Belfast YMCA project coordinator, emphasised the importance of involving young people in politics, particularly as Northern Ireland enters a new era with the reinstatement of the local institutions.

He said: "Our experience shows that young people are eager to discuss issues that directly impact their lives. This project not only fosters pride and confidence in their identities and beliefs but also promotes understanding and empathy towards differing perspectives."

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our politics newsletter here.