ORANGE MAN HAS NO APPEAL FOR KIDS

Almost a quarter of young eligible voters arents enrolled and a fair chunk dont even recognise politicians

This from Stuff

Election a big yawn for young

A collective yawn is the response to the election from many potential young voters.

With election day five weeks away, a snap Dominion Post street survey has revealed alarming numbers of young people are struggling to recognise even the leaders of the major parties.

Figures also show nearly a quarter of the members of "Generation Why vote?" have not yet signed up to cast a ballot.

In the survey of 60 people aged 18 to 24, everyone knew who Prime Minister Helen Clark was but barely more than half could identify National leader John Key.

Only two people picked out Green Party co-leader Russel Norman, 13 knew Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples, seven identified Wellington Central MP Marian Hobbs and five knew Parliament's youngest member, Darren Hughes.

Elections New Zealand estimates there are 411,000 eligible voters between 18 and 24, and more than 95,000 have not yet enrolled to vote.

The problem is particularly bad in the youth-heavy electorate of Wellington Central. Big student populations mean young people make up about a quarter of the electorate, and just over half of those have enrolled to vote.

Electoral Commission chief executive Helena Catt was not surprised by young voters' "abysmal" knowledge of political leaders, which fitted with past studies.

The pattern of low youth turnout at the polls had been gathering steam for years, she said.