Young Voters guide
Turning 18 brings with it new rights and responsibilities, including being eligible to vote for the first time.
By registering to vote, you will get an important say on your future. Having reached 18, there’s no better way to change things.
Once registered, you will be able to vote at Local Government, European and Parliamentary elections.
Find out more about registering your vote and how the elections process works:
About the Electoral Services Office
Voting Times
Voting Times is a special newspaper sent out, by Parliament, to teenagers on their 18th birthday to remind them about this milestone.
Each copy is personalised and tells you how important your vote could be in the next general election, highlighting the real difference that millions of first time voters will make.
It has information about how to register and vote, how to find out more about candidates and loads about the role of the UK Parliament.
Voting Times is also available online at www.parliament.uk/votingtimes
Parliament's education website has heaps of information resources about how laws are made, the history of Parliament, games and much more. Visit www.parliament.uk/education
What is Parliament?
Parliament is an essential part of UK politics.
The main work of Parliament is to make laws, debate topical issues and look at how our taxes are spent to help run the country. Its main roles are:
- Examining and challenging the work of the government (scrutiny)
- Debating and passing all laws (legislation)
- Enabling the government to raise taxes
The issues that are discussed in Parliament affect us all:
- health
- the environment
- transport
- jobs
- schools
- crime
For instance, Parliament has recently debated and voted on how long people arrested on suspicion of terrorism can be held without being charged.
