Voting in the UK Youth Parliament Election for the 2006 North East Lincolnshire Member was completed today, Thursday 26th January 2006.
The MYP elected was ANDREW GALLANT with Victoria Weavill as his deputy who represent the 11 to 18 year olds in the constituency at both national and regional levels.
All four “Dream Teams” performed excellently, with Aidan Wilkins & Tom Coyne coming in as runners up. The votes were so well spread that after the two rounds of voting we had a tie for third place.
Ten schools participated in the first round and 2207 votes were cast, the Count for this took place today at the Council for Young People Elections Conference at the Elizabeth Hotel, Grimsby.
The election and Count was carried out under the control of the Acting Young Returning Officer Fred Cartwright, supported by the High Sheriff of Lincolnshire Nigel Brown.
One objective of the Youth Election was to familiarise young people with voting procedures to prepare them to participate in their communities affairs when they reach 18, to this end Voter Registration was included as a prequisite for those wanting to vote.
At least two schools carried out lesson guidance given by ElectionsUK and registered 100% of their 11 to 18 year olds as a useful introduction to a lifetime of participation in electing their local and national leaders.
Fred Cartwright is photographed verifying the final count observed by his helpers and The High Sheriff of Lincolnshire
Thousands of students took full advantage of learning how to register and cast their vote. This pioneering new approach to youth elections has been arranged by the Council for Young People and supported by ElectionsUK, a locally based Social Enterprise company that has developed innovative uses of new technology in cooperation with the Electoral Commission.
You can see and hear all the candidates with their deputies on the special website www.ElectionsUK.org/myp as well as an introduction by Sam Younger, the Chairman of The Electoral Commission.
Sam Younger’s audio included on the website was played to the Conference Delegates - it said
” I am delighted to be here on the site welcoming you for this Youth Parliament election. This is partly because I’ve got a connection with North East Lincolnshire myself as my father was once the Member of Parliament for Grimsby.
I think what’s really important is that elections are at the heart of our democracy in this country.
So if you get used to taking part in elections now, that will you stand in good stead for the future.
Everything that happens in this country is based on whom we elect to positions of influence and importance.
So, make sure you register to vote and make sure you do vote and make it a habit that stays with you throughout your life.”