Election campaigns should be a great time to engage the public and convince them of the merits of turning out to vote.

But given stubbornly low turnout for local elections in particular – turnout in 2014 was just 36% (in fact, turnout has only exceeded 40% once since 2007) – we cannot only rely on the few weeks when campaigns really get going. More fundamental long-term solutions are needed.

Starting with young people is often the best solution. Practical political education, starting in primary schools would be a great start, particularly in terms of explaining exactly what local councils do.

Extending the franchise to 16-17-year-olds was an incredible success in the recent Scottish referendum – 75% of 16-17-year-olds voted, compared with 54% of 18-24-year-olds and they accessed a wider range of resources than any other age group.

Both these changes would help to jump start our democracy by giving a voice to those currently most excluded from our politics. Starting young makes sense when the evidence shows voting early helps to instil a voting habit for life. And Scotland showed us the serious approach younger citizens take.

Scotland has also shown how changing the voting system can breathe fresh life into local elections.

Since the Single Transferable Vote was introduced in 2007, uncontested seats have become a thing of the past and candidates say they reach out to previously neglected areas, conscious of the need to attract second or third – as well as first preference votes.

The Government’s rushed shift to Individual Electoral Registration has already impacted on our democracy.

The number of registered voters fell by at least 600,000 between December 2014 and December 2015, when for the purpose of drawing constituency boundaries, the register was closed. The new electoral map for 2020 will therefore be based on numbers at the end of 2015, meaning a depleted register will be used to decide the number of MPs each area has to represent them at Westminster.

In future, basing boundaries on population – who lives locally rather than registered voters – would be a sounder basis for ensuring fair representation across the country.

Of course, there has been a chance to add to the register in the run-up to the elections and online registration also represents a welcome innovation in making the whole process much easier and more modern.

But the switchover will affect the local elections, in part because we know the new system which includes a requirement to produce a National Insurance number has led to a disproportionate drop-off among certain groups – particularly young people.

We hope big efforts will be made to use the EU referendum (deadline 17 June) as an on opportunity get people from under-represented groups on the register.

There are many other ways to improve registration and engagement and we should always be striving to increase the turnout from those who currently do note vote.

Just making it easier for current voters to keep voting is important, but it doesn’t amount to greater diversity of participation our democracy needs.

Trialling automatic or same-day registration and early voting or weekend voting are all worthwhile experiments, as is opening up opportunities to register when obtaining benefits, a driver’s licence or moving home –‘motor voting’ as it is called in the US.

However, making registration easier doesn’t always translate into action – voters need to feel there is purpose in having a say.

A game-changer therefore could be the extended powers being granted to some areas through the Cities and Local Government Devolution Act.

After all, if the purpose of voting is lessened by a feeling local councils lack real power, extra powers could help to persuade reluctant voters to the polls.

Having elected mayors will be a condition of getting devolution in many areas. Will these suffer from the same lack of attention that has dogged police and crime commissioner elections or can they help to reboot public interest and engagement?

After a period of negotiation between the chancellor and local leaders – with the public largely left in dark – in many areas councillors are beginning to pay attention for the need to get people involved in a meaningful fashion – with ‘Citizens’ Assemblies’ offering one positive option.

It doesn’t have to be inevitable that turnout and engagement in local elections will be low. With decent information about what councils actually do, more powers, improved voter registration and crucially, a fair voting system for local elections we can revitalise City Hall.

Katie Ghose is chief executive of the Electoral Reform Society