Two groups set to transform, maintain or resuscitate the shape and tone of politics on these islands, this continent and even the world in 2016 – whatever way you look at it – are women and young people.

In the United States, women have come under attack by some of the candidates for the highest political office in the land. Ahead of the UK’s European Union membership referendum, young people have been arguably marginalised by those leading the debate.

If politics is really a numbers game, with decisions made by those who turn up, this is exactly why the turnout of women and young people in these two polls looks set to be so crucial.

Most Americans today believe the election of a female president is inevitable, yet the denigration of women by candidates for the Republican Party presidential nomination demonstrates the persistence of widespread sexism.

Perhaps the most telling event of the Republican race has been the sharing by the Trump and rival Ted Cruz campaigns of unflattering photos of each other’s wives. Should women turn out to vote in the general election the Republicans could find themselves in big electoral trouble.

In 2012, President Barack Obama won the two-party vote among female voters by 12 points, 56% to 44%, over Republican candidate Mitt Romney. Four years later, these 12 points could be a starting point.

Just as women in the United States are being taken for granted, it seems young people in the UK have featured little in the so-called ‘Brexit’ debate.

The polling company Opinium has found that in the 18-34 age group over half said they definitely back Britain staying in the EU. Despite this, just over half of respondents within this age group said they were certain they would actually vote.

Whereas women in the US may come to see a candidate like Donald Trump synonymous with sexism, it seems young people here are less sure of what their politicians stand for or against on the European question. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is a case in point, having receiving mixed responses in polling.

Young people for Yes, then, could have a significant say in the EU referendum if they really want to; perhaps they just need to be inspired. For the moment anyway, the Leave campaign is considered by pundits to be more “solid”.

Here and in the US, women and young people respectively have a huge chance to sway the polls and tone for politics going forward. Let’s not forget the impact that both groups could have on elections here on Northern Ireland in May, too.