Mock Elections go local - 6 Apr, 2006

www.mockelections.co.uk

In the run up to the English local elections on May 4, schools, colleges and youth groups are being invited to recreate the excitement and mass participation of real election campaigns by taking part in the Y Vote Mock Local Elections 2006. Launched today, the Y Vote Mock Local Elections are run by the Hansard Society and supported by the Electoral Commission and the Department for Education and Skills.

In 2005, the Y Vote Mock Elections celebrated a record turnout with 800,000 students from over 2100 schools taking part. However, in the General Election, turnout among 18-24 year olds sunk to a new low of 37%, with many young people citing a lack of knowledge about the electoral process as their reason for not participating.

The Y Vote Mock Local Elections aim to give young people the opportunity to learn about the political process and the issues affecting their communities in a fun and active way. Pupils are encouraged to stand as party candidates, to take part as speech writers and canvassers as well as follow the process of the election from registering to vote right through to the count.
This year, the Y Vote website has been updated with a fresh new look and added features including:

• Comprehensive information for teachers planning to hold a Y Vote Mock Election in the lead up to the May 4 Local Elections with key curriculum links
• Information on every type of U.K. Election giving teachers more choice in deciding which election to hold
• Downloadable ballot papers, rosettes and campaign posters
• Bi-weekly polls held in the Y Vote Poll section of the website give students the opportunity to have their say on topical election issues
• Games and quizzes for students to test their knowledge of all things electoral

To take part schools should register online at www.mockelections.co.uk.

Supporting the project, Beverly Hughes MP, Minister of State for Children and Families said:
"It is vital that we work creatively with young people to stimulate their interest in and understanding of formal political processes and encourage them to vote when they reach 18. The Y Vote Mock Elections are an imaginative way for young people to get a real taste for active democracy. This project develops pupils' awareness of how political processes work, how decisions are made and how individuals can play a part. "

Michael Raftery, Y Vote Mock Elections Project Manager at the Hansard Society said: "The Y Vote Mock Elections mirror the excitement and buzz of a real election. They enable students to participate fully, from standing as party candidates, to writing speeches and designing campaign posters. Mock elections are a great way to help students understand how the democratic process works."

Sam Younger, chairman of The Electoral Commission said: "We are committed to encouraging more young people to get involved and engaged in the democratic process. The mock local elections are a great opportunity to inform and educate young people about how local elections work and show them that local politics affects their everyday lives."

For further information or to arrange interviews please contact: Gemma Thomas at the Electoral Commission on 020 7271 0529 /07789 920414 or Virginia Gibbons at Hansard Society on 020 7438 1225 /07812 765552

Editors' Notes

• The Electoral Commission is an independent body established by the UK Parliament. It aims to ensure public confidence and participation in the democratic process within the United Kingdom through modernisation of the electoral process, promotion of public awareness of electoral matters and regulation of political parties.

• The Hansard Society is an independent, non-partisan educational charity which exists to promote effective parliamentary democracy.