YOUNG people between the ages of 18 and 24 are the least likely to vote in the general election.

In 2015 just 43 per cent cast their votes compared to more than three-quarters of people over the age of 65.

And polls so far suggest there will be little difference when June 8 comes around.

The Daily Echo has been to Bournemouth University to talk to students and to the Students' Union about their plans.

CHARLIE SOUTER-PHILLIPS is Vice President, Welfare, at the Students' Union Bournemouth University (SUBU). She said the union has been actively encouraging students to register to vote, either at their university addresses or at their family homes.

She told the Daily Echo: "The idea of having to register for a postal vote at home or having to change to register elsewhere is putting people off. Many people think it is going to be a nuisance to register so they don't bother."

She said SUBU has been running information campaigns on campus and online and said debates will be held with representatives from all the major parties.

Charlie, 22, completed a journalism degree last year and is a full-time union officer.

She added: "I have voted every time I have been able to since I was 18. People of our age are the ones who are going to be affected for the longest by the decisions made but many young people don't see how the election directly affects them.

"Politics sometimes seems to be very distant from real life and people don't realise it affects how much they get paid, how much they pay for things and what support is available to them.

"Big manifestos switch people off - politicians need to simplify things."

BEN RAWLINGS is a third year politics and media student and is 20-years-old.

He said: "I voted in the 2015 general election, the referendum and council elections. It is how I was brought up and our family talks about politics. It is important to get your views known and most people I know are voting."

He said his family home is in the constituency of mid-Dorset and north Poole and added: "I wanted to vote for the Green party but they no longer have a candidate. They have urged people to support the Liberal Democrats but I don't want to do that. I don't think the candidate's record in local politics is good enough."

He said the environment is a major concern of his and added: "I'm also interested in finding out out how the parties could handle negotiations over Brexit. I still have no idea who I'm going to vote for and will probably decide on the day."

JASON CARTER is in the second year of a multi-media journalism course. He said he voted in the last general election and in the referendum but has never voted in council elections.

The 21-year-old is from the Isle of Wight where Toy MP Andrew Turner is standing down after telling students at a local school that he believes homosexuality is "wrong" and "dangerous to society."

Jason said he looks at a party's overall policies but added: "I look at the individual I am voting for too, particularly after Andrew Turned made those terrible remarks.

He added: "I think it is important to get the younger generation's voice heard. It is important to have a say in what is going on in government.

"Tuition fees are also a big issue for me because although people accept it, they are in a lot of debt at the end of their degrees."

History student JONATHAN WRIGHT is 18-years-old and will be voting for the first time on June 8. He lives in Southend and will be using a postal vote because he will still be at Bournemouth University when the big day comes.

He said: "My main concern is that there should be a more fair society. I want a society that helps everyone rather than just the privileged and the highest earners and the biggest companies should pay more."

He said he pays more attention to national issues than to local concerns and added: "A number of people at university seem to be a bit confused about where they should vote.

"I come from Southend and my local MP is Conservative but I will be voting Labour. I don't suppose there's much prospect of it changing where I live but I can't bring myself to vote differently."

JAMES INGE is also a first year history student and is 18-years-old. He lives in the mid-Dorset and north Poole constituency and said he will be voting for the Liberal Democrats as a tactical vote.

He said: "I want to vote for Labour but I know there's absolutely no point where I live. I am absolutely going to vote and don't really understand why people don't.

"I think it is important to have a say. If you don't have a say you can't really complain about what happens. I want to know about the future of universities, about fees and about the negotiations for Brexit.

"The biggest local issue for me is Poole Hospital and I would like to see it keep its A&E department open."