TIME TO GET #IN CAMPAIGN Highlighted

16 AND 17-YEAR-OLDS NOW A KEY PART OF SCOTLAND’S DEMOCRATIC PROCESS

The SNP has today highlighted and welcomed a campaign to by the Electoral Commission to promote voter registration for young people.

The campaign - Time to get #IN – aims to ensure 16 and 17 year olds (and 15 year olds who will be 16 on polling day 5 May 2016) are informed and able to register to vote in Scottish Parliamentary and local government elections.

The campaign is encouraging all schools and colleges across Scotland to hold a registration session during the week of 7-11 September.

Commenting, SNP Cunninghame South Candidate Ruth, who is also North Ayrshire Councils Youth Champion said: 

“I’m backing the Time to get #IN campaign by the Electoral Commission to encourage young people from across Scotland to get registered for next year’s elections. 

“In last year’s referendum 16, 17 and 18 year olds overwhelmingly grasped the opportunity to have their democratic voice heard, here in North Ayrshire the turnout was fantastic.

“Since then the Scottish Parliament passed The Scottish Elections (Reduction of Voting Age) Act 2015 enabling 16 and 17 year olds in Scotland to vote at Scottish elections, including Scottish Parliamentary and local government elections. 

“Young people are now rightly considered a key part of the democratic process in Scotland – and the onus is on us all to ensure we make it is accessible and easy as possible to ensure the greatest number possible are registered to vote in May 2016.”

North Ayrshire Young Folk recognised internationally

Scotland calling Tajikistan - Cllr Maguire picture with NA Youth Services
team & MSYP Nairn Macdonald

Unicef's flagship conference took place thousands of miles away from North Ayrshire but that didn't stop North Ayrshire playing a significant role.

The council was asked to be Scotland's representative in the Children's Water Sanitation and Hygiene Forum.  This was in recognition of their proactive work in improving school toilet provision across our schools.  This need was identified by the Youth Executive following on from a survey of school pupils.
The Joint cabinet, listened and championed the young peoples work resulting in significant improvements in both facilities and a policy which provides common guidelines for the management of toilets across North Ayrshire Schools.

Day cleaners have been introduced in secondary schools and regular monitoring takes place across all schools and pupils are actively encouraged to report any problems.

The Youth services team and young people made a film which documented their experience of making their voices heard and exacting change for their community.  Participants viewing the film described it as "inspirational". 

The film will receive it's domestic preview at the next joint cabinet at Auchenharvie academy next week, commenting after the conference Cllr Maguire who is North Ayrshire Councils Youth Champion said:

"Nairn, Paul, Shannon, Courtney and the Youth Services team have done a great job with the film which really highlights the great work that has gone on in North Ayrshire and just how serious we are about listening to and working with young people to find solutions to issues they identify."

International Womens Day 2014 - Women for Independence Irvine

Last Saturday Women for Independence launched a new video to mark International Women’s Day on March 8^th.  Designed to appeal to the thousands of women in Scotland who are still unsure how they’ll cast their vote in September or are unregistered, the short film features contributions from 20 women, young and old, from all over Scotland.

Women for Independence has grown enormously over the past 18 months, attracting thousands of women who have never before been active in politics. The video complements dozens of local events which took place throughout Scotland over the weekend.  

Here in Irvine we took to the streets for some campaigning with a stall in Bridgegate and invited women from all over Ayrshire to join us.  The stall was a success and it was particularly pleasing to welcome women who had never campaigned before.  Once we were out of leaflets it was onto the Volunteer rooms for a cuppa and chat about future plans, events and days of action.  Get in touch If you want to get involved, all women of any party or no party most welcome!  

Campaigning activity will step up in the crucial 6 months before the Referendum, to help support women taking action in their communities Women for Independence are currently running an online fundraising campaign  http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/women-for-independence-our-voices-fundraiser

CLLR MAGUIRE WELCOMES VOTES AT 16 REGISTRATION FOR REFERENDUM

North Ayrshire Youth Champion, Cllr Ruth Maguire has welcomed news that young people who will be 16 or over in next year’s referendum can now register to take part.

The SNP has long been in favour of giving 16 and 17 year olds the right to vote in all elections and has already made this possible in elections it has the power to change the franchise of such as health board elections. The power to enable 16 and 17 year olds to vote in local government and Scottish Parliament elections remains reserved to Westminster.

Electoral registration officers have begun gathering information for the electoral roll which will be used for the referendum. In addition to the usual household registration forms, people will also be given young voter forms to allow details to be collected of everyone who will be aged 16 and 17 on referendum day.

Welcoming the news, Cllr Maguire said:

“I urge all North Ayrshire young folk who will be 16 or over on September 18 next year to make sure they are on the electoral role so they can have their say on Scotland’s constitutional future.

“It is only right that 16 and 17 year olds should have their say about the country they live in – young people at this age can be paying tax, getting married and joining the armed forces.  It is fair and proper that they should also be entitled to vote.

“They will have this opportunity in 2014 thanks to the progressive legislation passed by the Scottish Parliament that gives 16 and 17 year olds the right to participate in next year’s referendum.  

I am very clear that this should be the norm for every election not just the referendum and will continue to support the "Votes at 16 Campaign.  Our political system needs to recognise the abilities of 16 and 17 year olds by properly including them in the democratic process and showing them the trust and respect society expects of them. "