A recent poll showed nearly half of young people believe their vote doesn’t matter, and fewer than one in five 18 to 24-year-olds trust politicians. But votes do have an impact. In fact, winning even this limited form of electoral democracy was a hard-fought victory for the working class, and access to the polls remains crucial.

Industrial workers and trade unions played a significant role in pushing for broader electoral rights. They organised strikes, protests, and campaigns demanding political representation and the extension of voting rights to working people. Across Europe, women’s suffrage movements were instrumental in securing voting rights for women. In several countries, farmer movements also played a role in demanding voting rights, especially in societies where rural populations were significant and often disenfranchised.