Youngsters are voting to elect their very own political representatives in Hackney, as the Youth Parliament elections opened on Monday.
“By the children, for the children” is the motto. Anyone aged eight and over can vote for their favourites among the budding political candidates at ballot boxes across the borough.
“It’s about young people having a voice in the policy-making that affects their lives,” says Chris Murray, from the council’s election team.
“I also see it as absolutely intrinsically valuable that young people understand how we make political decisions from the inside,” he adds.
The Hackney Youth Parliament consists of 22 members aged 11 to 19 and voters are expected to turn out in their thousands to elect the young parliamentarians. In the last election in 2012 nearly 6,000 young voters participated.
The members elected will be tasked with speaking on behalf of Hackney’s youth. The candidates’ manifestos list a range of special causes affecting young people locally, from environmental issues to child poverty.
“I’m impressed that they all have a particular thing they want to champion. It shows that they really have a passion,” said Murray.
Ballot boxes are available at schools, colleges, libraries and youth clubs across Hackney, and the polls are open from 6-14 October. The results will be announced on 15 October.
