THE General Election is now just weeks away and the momentum and excitement is building.

After five years of the Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition Government in Westminster, this is the voters' chance to choose to bring an end to austerity and to give our communities a chance to recover from the damage that has been done to them by spending cuts.

It is important to remember that only those who actually vote can have a say in the future of our country.

Yet voter turnout in elections has been falling, and falling most sharply for those under the age of 24. Just 56 per cent of young people under 24 are registered to vote, while 96 per cent of people over 65 are registered.

Only 44 per cent of young people voted in the general election in 2010. And while that shouldn’t have an impact on politicians' priorities, it does.

When young people don’t vote, some politicians feel that they can ignore the issues that are important to them. Campaign promises sometimes focus on older people because that is where politicians believe votes can be won. This leaves young people voiceless.

Changes made to voter registration have made the situation worse. Figures published by the Electoral Commission in February showed that almost a million voters, many of them young people, have disappeared from the electoral register in the last year. While campaigns like Bite the Ballot have been working hard to register young people, there may still be a real shortfall.

I do not believe that low turnout among young people is due to apathy. Many young people are passionate about all sorts of issues, from inequality to animal welfare, and I am often inspired and energised by their enthusiasm when I talk to them. But I know that the machinery of politics can seem distant and politicians can seem out of touch.

Of course, I would be delighted to see young people vote for Plaid Cymru on May 7. I believe our policies are good for young people and good for Wales.

But whoever you choose to vote for, the most important thing is to see as many people as possible participating in politics and having a say about the future of their own communities. I want young people’s voices to be heard loud and clear in this election.