Elections for the UK Youth parliament get underway in Southampton today with the UK`s first ever all-out text vote via mobile phones.
Eight candidates are standing, and voting will go on until Friday October 21. The election is being timed as part of Southampton`s Local Democracy Week events, which encourage young people to vote and understand and take part in democratic processes.
Southampton is the first place to try an entire ballot (for 22,000 young people) by SMS text message. Software has been specially written which means once the ballot closes on Friday 21 October, the result will be declared almost instantaneously.
Every voter, through schools, youth clubs ands Connexions is being given a unique ten digit voter code. They`ll then text this during the fortnight long ballot to the corresponding phone number registering calls for their favoured candidate. Obviously only one vote each voter is allowed. In the run up to the election the candidates have held hustings, produced publicity material and promoted themselves, as in any election.
The election is being jointly organised by the City Council and Connexions. Spare phones are being lent to schools and other places for those young people who don`t have their own phone to enable them to take part. Anyone without access to a mobile phone can vote free by contacting their school or youth club for a list of nearby allocated `voter phones` provided free.
"The UK Youth Parliament gives a voice to the young people of the UK, between the age of 11 and 18," says Councillor Sue Jackson, Southampton`s Youth Champion. "We`ve come up with the latest technology which is understood and used by young people, to make voting as easy and appealing as possible. This will be a first taste of voting by this age group and I hope they take advantage of the opportunity and make their mark contributing to the parliament which represents their specialised views."
Notes for editors
Currently, we have over 400 elected MYPs, aged between 11 and 18 (inclusive). MYPs represent both young men and women, including young people from a variety of ethnic backgrounds, and with physical and learning disabilities. Each Local Education Authority (LEA) represents a UKYP constituency, and 90% of the LEAs across England are currently represented on the UKYP.
