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26.01.2006

Over the next four weeks young people all over the UK will cast their votes in the UK Youth Parliament (UKYP) 2006 elections. Young people aged 11-18 will be voting to elect over 400 Members of the UK Youth Parliament (MYPs). It is anticipated that over 750 young people will stand for election and over 250,000 young people will cast their vote.

A small number of elections have already taken place. In Sutton, 49% of 11-18-year-olds turned out to elect their MYP, a figure which has caught the eye of the Department for Constitutional Affairs, who want to know how it was achieved!

In Southampton, voter turnout was drastically increased (by over 1775%) by the use of cutting-edge mobile phone technology. Every eligible voter was given a unique ten digit voter code, which they texted to a corresponding candidate phone number to register their vote. This technology enabled the result to be announced as soon as the ballot was closed.

Annual UKYP elections have taken place since 2001 and support has grown considerably in that time. Each Local Education Authority (LEA) represents a UKYP constituency. Elections are organised by LEA Youth Participation Workers. Local youth clubs and schools also assist in the process as polling stations and facilitators.

Once elected, MYPs are responsible for representing the views and interests of young people in their constituency both locally and nationally. During their term of office MYPs meet Councillors, MPs and other decision makers to take forward issues of local importance.

MYPs also meet once a year at the UKYP Annual Sitting to discuss campaign priorities. This year’s Sitting will take place from 21st – 24th July 2006 at Leicester University.

Andy Hamflett, UKYP Chief Executive said: “UKYP elections use innovative and exciting ways to raise the profile of democracy and participation in local authorities. A large part of the success of the elections comes about because so many young people are involved in their design and implementation, ably supported by the skills and enthusiasm of their youth participation workers. At the end of it we’ll also have a fabulous new batch of MYPs who will be able to guide our work in the year ahead. We can’t wait to welcome them.”