WIREDGOV

With Friday 18 September marking the one year anniversary of the Scottish independence referendum the Electoral Commission is urging all young people to mark the occasion by ensuring they are registered to vote for next year’s Scottish Parliament election.

109,593 16 and 17 year olds in Scotland were registered to vote at the referendum and 75% of those surveyed after the poll said they had voted. 97% of those 16-17 year olds who reported having voted said that they would vote again in future elections and referendums.

Following the success of young people’s participation in the referendum the rules on the voting age were changed to enable 16 and 17 year olds to vote in elections to the Scottish Parliament and at local elections in Scotland, but only if they have registered to vote in advance of the poll. The lowering of the voting age also means that 15 year olds can apply to register.

Anyone can apply to register online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote.

Andy O’Neill, Head of Scotland Office at the Electoral Commission said:

“This time last year at the Scottish independence referendum 16 and 17 year olds showed how much they cared about politics and wanted to get involved in the debate. For the first time, this age group can also vote in the Scottish Parliamentary Elections next May, but only if they register to do so. You can register in just a couple of minutes so we're asking everyone who will be 16 next May to get online and do it now at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote.”

The call to action from the Commission forms part of a wider Commission social media campaign which aims to encourage all 15-17 year olds who will be eligible to vote for the first time in the Scottish Parliament election scheduled for May 2016 to sign up and register. The ‘Are you #in’ campaign runs from 3 August to 20 September’. 

More information and images from the Commission’s campaign are available here

For further information contact the Electoral Commission press office on 020 7271 0704/out of office hours 07789 920 414 or email press@electoralcommission.org.uk

Notes to editors

1. The Electoral Commission’s campaign to encourage 15-17 year olds in Scotland to add their details to the electoral register is funded by the Scottish Government and runs between Monday 3 August until Sunday 20 September. The Commission is working with Electoral Registration Officers across Scotland to support local initiatives to encourage voter registration.
2. In Scotland, the franchise for Scottish Parliamentary and local government elections has been extended to include 16 and 17 year olds. This means that the local government register will include 16 and 17 year olds as full electors. Additionally, 15 year olds are entitled to be included on the local government register as ‘attainers’.
3. The extension of the franchise takes effect for Scottish Parliamentary elections held on or after 5 April 2016, and for local government elections held on or after 5 May 2016. 16 and 17 year olds will not be able to vote in any elections before these dates.
4. A person can register to vote in Scotland if they are:

• Resident (usually live) in Scotland; and
• Aged 14 or over, but will not be able to vote in Scottish Parliamentary or local government elections until they are 16, and not in UK Parliamentary or European Parliamentary elections until they are 18

They must also be either:

• a British, Irish or European Union citizen
• a Commonwealth citizen who has leave to remain in the UK or who does not require leave to remain in the UK

5. The electoral register lists the names and addresses of everyone who is registered to vote in public elections. The register is used for electoral purposes, such as making sure only eligible people can vote. It is also used for other limited purposes specified in law, such as: detecting crime (e.g. fraud) and checking credit applications.
6. The open register is an extract of the electoral register, but is not used for elections. It can be bought by any person, company or organisation. For example, it is used by businesses and charities to confirm name and address details. If you are aged 16 or over, your name and address will be included in the open register unless you ask for them to be removed. Removing your details from the open register does not affect your right to vote.
7. Anyone under 16 will not be included on the open register. They will be included on the electoral register, but only Electoral Registration Officers and their staff can usually see the details provided. Details will not be included in any register that is published.