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unite Life


BY RAE PASSFIELD


Politics affects us all Bite the Ballot and the power of participation


“It was three weeks before the general election in 2010,” Mike Sani (pictured), co-founder of voter registration campaign Bite the Ballot explained. “I was a 27 year old teacher and my boss asked me if I’d decided who I was voting for. I told him, ‘I don’t vote, politics doesn’t affect me.’


“He couldn’t believe it. He looked at me and said, ‘Politics doesn’t affect you? You drove here today – politics determines the price of petrol. You went out at the weekend – politics determines if that nightclub can have a late licence. You download music, you eat food, you play sport…’ and the realisation sort of smacked me in the face.”


It left Mike questioning how his disengagement with politics had happened. “I felt frustrated to get to the age of 27 without ever really feeling this was important,” he said.


“Why was I never taught about politics in school? Whether that’s playing an active role in society or simply taking responsibility for my identity – the perfect place where this initial spark can be ignited is being overlooked.”


Before becoming an activist, Mike was a business studies teacher at a comprehensive school. He asked his students the same question his boss had asked him, to resounds of ‘No I don’t vote.’


So he took action. Mike arranged a mock polling day at his school to educate and enthuse the young people he worked with.


“The school was set up as if it were a polling station and


everyone – from year sevens to dinner ladies – everyone got to vote,” he explained.


The day was a huge success and the beginnings of what is now Bite the Ballot’s four-point strategy to revolutionise young political minds – engagement, registration, inspiration, education.


“We want to install an ethos in this generation that through the power of participation they can lead the way at a local, national and global level. We talk about this as a huge problem, but in terms of the solution it’s very simple,” Mike said.


Mike and his team hoped their approach to reawakening Britain’s disenfranchised youth would be embraced by government, but Bite the Ballot remains ignored by our leaders.


“They’re not interested, which is extremely frustrating. As Tony Benn said, if you want change you don’t go to the top – you go from the ground up.”


So Bite the Ballot boldly marches on as a grassroots movement, optimistic and realistic in their ambition.


“Right now it’s about engaging and uniting and celebrating the power that you hold together, and creating a culture amongst this generation that they are citizens first and consumers after,” Mike said.


“We don’t know what will happen with the campaign, but you can’t kill an idea – and our idea is out there now.”


Are you registered? Visit www.unitetheunion.org/nvnv


Mark Thomas


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