From Sam Mezec (17).
WITH regards to the article in Wednesday’s JEP titled ‘Are they bothered?’ as a Hautlieu student, I was very disappointed at this portrayal of voter apathy among teenagers.

The reason that the hustings were so poorly attended is a very simple one: no one knew about it. The schools did not mention it to the students at all. Every day for the past few weeks the JEP has had a list of when and where all of the hustings are, but I saw no mention at all of this students’ hustings – why is this?

Apparently the schools are not allowed to talk about the elections, because the States don’t want them to ‘put across a biased message that could influence us’ (although how it’s possible to be biased in advertising an event with all 21 candidates is beyond me).

How can people expect students to flock in huge numbers to such an event when they are being prevented from finding out about it? I was at the hustings, but I only found out about it through word of mouth on the day. It wasn’t even on the school’s electronic notice board.

The teachers were oh-so-keen to tell us to go register to vote, but were not allowed to hand out the necessary paper work so we could register. Also, they have not been allowed to educate the students on how Jersey politics work, so a large number of students have no idea what they are voting for.

I suspect that the States want to make us feel powerful by giving us the vote, but secretly don’t want us to use it.
Having said all that, I would like to thank the candidates who stayed behind to talk to us and help clean up the hall.
4 Jardin à Pommier,
Rue de Patier,
St Saviour.