– I have no reason to vote, says Kristiansen when news meets him at the training centre. – There are many different things you care about, but you don’t bother or don’t have the time to get involved in politics. For that reason, Kristiansen has never cast a vote. Kevin Andreassen says it is entirely possible that he will refrain from voting in this year’s municipal and county council elections. Photo: Harpreet Kaur Nijjer / news 21-year-old Kevin Andreassen, on the other hand, says that he could very well vote, but that there is no party that engages him so strongly. – Should one take the trouble to stand in that queue for half an hour to cast a vote? Andreassen is a student and says that he may not vote in this year’s election, but that it is not the interest that matters. – In politics, a lot is said, but little is done for ordinary people. Look at food and fuel prices for example. For me as a student, it is quite tough. Henrik Weiss is 23 years old and is a receptionist at Mørkved climbing centre. This year he has voted, but in the past he has not done so. – I had absolutely no interest in it. I think it was complicated with all the parties, and it was a big deal to read through everything they stand for. Weiss adds that he also doesn’t think the politicians are looking to achieve much. – But I have picked up a bit more interest in the last few months, so this year I had pre-voted anyway, he adds. Henrik Weiss works as a receptionist at the climbing center in Bodø and says that he is voting for the first time this year. Photo: Harpreet Kaur Nijjer / news Thinks it is bad for democracy Electoral researcher Johannes Bergh says that there is a difference in electoral participation between young women and young men. – Young women are more inclined to vote than young men. Bergh believes that is worrying. – The parties on the left that get young women’s votes get the advantage, since young women are also the ones with a high turnout. – For democracy, it is not good that young men do not participate. Electoral expert Johannes Bergh believes that a democratic problem can arise if young men do not participate in politics. Photo: EIVIND MOLDE / news Below is the turnout for women and men in the two previous municipal council and county council elections. Move the mouse over the bars to make the numbers appear. Pointing to one important factor in particular, the electoral researcher adds that low turnout among young boys can be linked to several reasons, and mentions outsiders as one of them. – Young men and boys are a bit left out in several areas of society, says Bergh. – Men and boys do not do so well at school and do not take higher education to the same extent as young women. Taking higher education is quite closely linked to participation in elections. Figures from Statistics Norway also show that higher education is closely linked to electoral participation. Opposite is shown the turnout by education level in the two previous municipal council and county council elections. But is it really a democratic problem? More mortgages and tax – What does it take for you to familiarize yourself with politics? – It must be about things that interest me, such as mortgages and taxes. But I have not familiarized myself with what the parties think, says Teodor Kristiansen. – If people who have opinions don’t vote for what they think is good, then there will be skewed distribution, he concludes. – Is it a democratic problem that young men do not vote? – I see the problem and you should vote, but at the same time I don’t feel that I have a party I’m really passionate about, says Kevin Andreassen. – But if I walk past the polling booths and see that there is little queue, then it is possible that I will vote. In the climbing hall, Henrik Weiss explains that he has previously struggled to find information about the parties. He says that he would have cared more in previous elections if there was a little more and more easily accessible information with proper comparisons of the parties. – I think most people would have voted if they knew what they were going to vote for. Wondering what to vote for? Take news’s election guide and find out which party is right for you! 8 September is the deadline for advance voting. Election day itself is 11 September, and in some municipalities the polling stations are also open on Sunday 10 September. Photo: news
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– A democratic problem – news Nordland
