Almost two-thirds of students living in Kingston say they would be more likely to vote in the upcoming General Election, if there was a polling station on the University campuses.

The survey carried out by RiverOnline, found many students were undecided on whether they would be voting in the election but said a polling station accessible from campus would encourage them to vote.

Andrew Bessant, the Returning Officer for the Royal Borough of Kingston, whose role it is to oversee the voting procedure and count, said: “The idea of having a polling station on the University campus is an interesting one and would undoubtedly increase the student turnout. It would not be possible to have a facility just for University students because of the requirement for them to be registered in the locality.

“However, a polling station at, or near a significant area of student accommodation could be considered in the future” he added.

Maddy Whitty, a first year graphic design student said: “If I walked past a polling station on campus I would definitely be more inclined to vote.  It sounds lazy but it needs to be more convenient for people like me and there isn’t enough out there for students. It’s not really aimed at our age group”.

Students at the Penrhyn Road campus have a 4 minute walk to their nearest polling station, those at Knights Park have a 6 minute walk, Roehampton Vale students face a 10 minute walk and Kingston Hill students face a 14 minute trek.

Electoral Services Manager Gareth Harrington said: “It is important that students eligible to vote in Kingston, do just that. The more people that vote, the better.”

 “The Council has always been very keen to engage young people in the democratic process. In the past we have put on various events to try and achieve that though, in most cases, without much success. It remains a major priority in the long-term.”

Libby Wimble, another first year graphic design student, said: “I plan to vote but I don’t really know how to register. I got a letter about it through my door but there wasn’t much explanation.”

 Local residents and Kingston based students can register to vote up to 11 days prior to the election, likely to be called for Thursday 6 May.

Lady Lytton’s nails dug into the rough skin of the Wardress’ arm as she was forced by several hands to sit back on the wooden chair. A clammy palm held her throat in an iron grip locking her head into place. She glimpsed at the four foot long tube for a few seconds before she felt it being forced into her mouth and down her throat, scraping the sides. The sensation was not new, but hard to get used to, and she vomited straight away, all over her dress, hair and even the man in front of her.

Yet the doctor, with an eerie calm, continued with his job and filled the cylinder attached to the tube with food, eyes focused on it with a steady silence. When all the liquid had been emptied into her stomach, the wardresses let Lady Lytton go and left the prison cell.

It was her seventh experience of being force fed. She had been on several hunger strikes, like many Suffragettes, all so that women would have the right to vote.

Nearly a century later, Tulsi Patel, a 19 year old Information Systems student said: “I am not going to vote in the upcoming election because I don’t have a clue on politics. I’m a bit interested, but not that much. I wouldn’t bother to read a book or a newspaper about it to find out more.”

Mary Hudson, a 22 year old Drama student also expresses similar views on voting: “I strongly believe women should have the right to vote, because men and women are equal. But I don’t get involved in politics; I don’t understand it and I don’t really want to. Part of me thinks that I should at least try to read up about Labour or the Conservatives because some women have died for my vote, but to be honest, I just can’t be bothered.”

These girls are not alone in their political apathy. 65% of female KU students interviewed said that they would not vote in the upcoming Election. Nationally, female voter turnout has slowly decreased in the General Election, from 73% in 1983 to 63% in 2005.

In 1928, The Representation of the People Act gave universal suffrage to all women aged over 21 thanks to the work of the Suffragettes. Their Movement made men seriously re-consider a woman’s place in society and made them realise that they were not “too emotional” to vote and were, in fact, capable of making clear, rational and intelligent decisions. It also led the way for women to find their part in politics, from the often loathed, but no doubt formidable Margaret Thatcher to the 126 current female MPs in Parliament today. So, what has happened since, and why do women not value their right to vote?

All of the women aged between 18-25 interviewed stated that it was very important that women should be able to vote. But out of those who are not planning on voting, 88% claimed that it was because they were “not interested” in politics or “could not be bothered”.

Some would argue that the Suffragettes did not fight for women to vote, but more the right to able to vote if they want to – and to have the choice not to is as important.

But, if the vote was taken away from you, would you regret how little you bothered to learn about a system which affects every part of your life?