A new generation of young voters could be crucial in Holyrood election

As thousands of teenagers prepare to vote for the first time in the forthcoming Holyrood election, how many of them will have the confidence to cast their ballot with conviction?

With just under five months until the election, it is imperative that we bring politics closer to the lives of young people and provide them with the tools to engage in political discourse.

Next year’s election contest will be the most hotly contested ever with Reform predicted to make substantial gains for the first time.

This will inevitably lead to a squeeze in support for the mainstream parties, meaning many seats are likely to be won by the finest of margins.

So, gaining the votes of a new generation of young voters – commonly known as Generation Z – could be crucial for parties battling for every seat across the country.

With many older voters disengaging or turning away from mainstream politics we cannot afford to lose a new generation of young voters.

A recent report from the John Smith Centre reveals the scale of the challenge. While most young people agree that politics is relevant to their lives, an overwhelming number see “politics as too divided”.

And with just under two thirds of young people saying they would consider voting for an independent, the mainstream parties must quickly get better at listening and engaging with this demographic.

Manifestos must be tailored to meet the aspirations of teenage voters, many of whom will soon become part of the workforce or take their first steps into tertiary education.

At the Royal Society of Edinburgh, we value the importance of giving young people the opportunity to develop their understanding of the principles of democracy and citizenship.

Over the past month Scotland’s National Academy has held first-time voter events in Dumfries, Ullapool, Aberdeen, and Dundee to help them become more politically literate.

What we have found is that we should not blithely assume we know what young people are thinking. Their aspirations and expectations are very different from ours, and the world that they are growing up in is very different to the one we grew up in.

At our first event in Dumfries, a comment from one of the young people struck a chord. She was clear in her mind that the election does affect young people, but wisely added:

“If it doesn’t affect you, it will definitely affect people around you.”

That is the key point. Political decisions have an impact on everyone and we need to find the right channels to develop this mutual understanding of intergenerational differences. There is no doubt all the parties will rely more than ever on digital campaigning, with social media at his heart.

However, without the right tone and messaging that addresses the issues impacting on young people’s everyday lives, there is a danger that their policies will fail to cut through.

During our mini tour of the country, it was refreshing to see how engaged our young people were when given a platform to ask questions and express their views.

Let’s hope that all the parties take a step away from the online world during this election campaign. Whether it’s on the doorsteps or in community venues, face-to-face engagement is fundamental in giving our young people a genuine political voice.

This article originally appeared in The Scotsman on Sunday 28 December 2025.