A Renfrewshire MSYP is encouraging 16 and 17 year olds to vote in the upcoming council elections.
Young people in Renfrewshire are being encouraged to register to vote by the April 18, deadline to ensure they can have their say in the local council elections.
Omar Taher is one of Renfrewshire’s representatives at the Scottish Youth Parliament, so he is keener than most to have his say in the local elections on Thursday, May5.
Omar said: “Voting and politics can sometimes feel confusing and there can be a lot of unclear and old-fashioned words and explanations - and it’s easy to feel a bit overwhelmed.
“That’s why there is information available on the council website for young people to help ensure that you are ready to vote and know what you’re voting for.
“The local elections will elect councillors who will represent us for the next five years so it’s really important that we vote for the people that we want to be in charge in Renfrewshire.
“Previously it was only adults who could take part, but now anyone over the age of 16 can vote in the elections so let’s make sure we take our opportunity.”
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Anyone aged 16 or over needs to be registered to vote in the election, with the deadline for registration falling on April 18.
Omar added: “You’re not registered automatically so take five minutes to fill in the form online if you’ve never voted before - and if you have voted before but have recently moved house or your name has changed, then you need to register again.
“Being part of the Scottish Youth Parliament has been a great experience and it’s made me realise how important young people are in politics, both locally and nationally.
“We really have the power to make a difference, but we can only do that by casting our vote and then working with the elected members to make the changes we want to see.
“So, make sure you register and then have your say on Thursday, May 5, – I can’t wait to cast my vote.”
Voters have a variety of options available to cast their vote, including in-person on the day, by post in advance or nominating someone else to vote on their behalf (by proxy).
If choosing to vote another way than in-person, voters must register this with the Electoral Registration Officer by the following dates:
Applying for new postal or postal proxy votes - Tuesday, April 19 (5pm)
Applying for new proxy votes - Tuesday, April 26 (5pm)
Voting will take place on Thursday, May 5, with the verification and counting of votes undertaken on Friday, May 6,at the Lagoon Leisure Centre.
For more information on the forthcoming election, visit: www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/council-elections-2022.
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