Trafford and Stockport College Group launches groundbreaking voter registration campaign

Trafford and Stockport College Group has become the first Further Education institution in England to launch an opt-in auto-enrolment voter registration service for 16-year-olds starting courses at the group’s campuses.

The initiative, initially being trialled for students living in Stockport, aims to ensure young people engage with the democratic process at an early age.

Starting on enrolment day, August 22^nd, this Association of Colleges (AoC) initiative has been led internally by Head of Personal and Professional Development, Michelle McLaughlin MBE in partnership local councils, MPs, and Purpose Union, a social purpose strategy consultancy. Michelle said:

“While 1 in 3 universities have already implemented automatic voter registration services, this is the first time a Further Education college has embraced such an initiative and we are proud to be leading the charge.

“When students come to register at one of our five colleges, those students living in Stockport will have the option to auto-enrol for a vote. For students from outside Stockport, staff will assist them in registering to vote through the government website on the same day.

“With 6,000 students passing through the college at the same time, the initiative offers a unique opportunity to encourage mass participation in the democratic process.

“This pioneering effort reflects growing momentum across the UK to extend voting rights to younger people, building on successful efforts in Scotland and Wales. I am personally very passionate about creating opportunities for social mobility and ensuring young people have a voice. It really will be a momentous day.”

Michelle has worked closely Stockport’s Data Protection Officer, and Electoral Registration Officer to create a secure, robust system reliant on data sharing and collaboration. Students who opt into the service during enrolment will have their details sent to the council, ensuring that when they turn 18, they automatically receive a voting slip.

James Scott, Principal and CEO of Trafford and Stockport College Group added:

“By automatically registering students to vote as part of the enrolment process, we are carrying out a civic duty and supporting an important transition from childhood to adulthood.

“Young people are significantly less likely to vote than older people, and if we don’t engage them early, we risk losing a generation of voters.”

The college group has long been committed to driving political awareness, offering programmes such as Student Question Time, Mood Box Monday, debate clubs in collaboration with local MPs, and a network of student ambassadors.

Michelle sees this latest initiative as the “icing on the cake,” and hopes that the AoC will use this as a blueprint to roll out to other colleges across the country. She concluded:

“This initiative is groundbreaking. I’m thrilled to be part of something that could have a lasting impact on our democracy and on young people’s lives.”

The Trafford and Stockport College Group voter registration initiative is a major step forward in engaging young people in politics and promoting a more politically active society. By linking voter registration with enrolment, the college group is empowering the next generation to take their first steps toward becoming active, engaged citizens.