I think several governments are working on the second premise with the end-game of disenchanting voters so much that a 100% corporation- and private-industry-run system almost looks like the best option.

We do have demographic information on who votes. The youth vote and youth issues matter less expressly because they don’t vote, as you say. And so one solution is to get youth voting no matter who they vote for. Even if they spoil their ballots. Even if their votes are ignorant. Informing the electorate can be the battle for next year. This year, just get them voting.

There is a lot your university and/or students’ union can do to promote this. Get a polling station on campus. Start a voters’ registration drive on campus. If anyone gives you any crap about residence students not being allowed to vote locally you need to fight it and correct it. Remember, there are real trends in student voting, however much or little they may vote. Some candidates may not be motivated at all to even facilitate that vote. In the past, I’ve seen unions face down exactly that challenge, when certain candidates were promoting the idea that students should “go home” (meaning, to their parents’ homes) to vote. There’s no such law. You vote where you live.

That, at least, is something you can do as a student. If and when there’s an election, do everything you can to make voting easy for students. It won’t correct every problem but it does at least strike at one point in the cycle.