Encouraging young people to vote
Voting gives you the opportunity to have your say.
"One of the important things for young people to remember is that voting is their opportunity to help select the people who will make important decisions about the area and country they live in.
"South Tyneside Council, for example, provides dozens of services, as this A-Z guide shows. Councillors make decisions, which can affect those services such as setting the budget and council tax levels. That’s why voting is so important.
"I'm really pleased that many of our young people, like Kate, are enthusiastic about being part of this important process."
Valerie Stephenson, Elections and Registration Service team leader
"I think that it’s important for young people to register to vote because it means we can have our say on what happens in our community. It gives us a chance to make a difference to issues that really matter to us.
"I'm looking forward to registering to vote because it means I'm one step closer to becoming more involved in my community."
Kate Collins, Year 9, St Wilfrid's RC College, South Shields
Did you know?
- The local elections will take place on 1 May 2008. You can vote by post or visit your allocated polling station. There are 105 polling stations in South Tyneside
- Last year, 35% of people who voted in South
Tyneside, voted by post - So far this year, 87% of 17 year olds have registered to vote