Make your Mark ballot

Children and young people in the London Borough of Hillingdon are being encouraged to vote in the UK Youth Parliament’s annual Make Your Mark ballot. The ballot decides the issues to be debated by the UK Youth Parliament at their sitting in the House of Commons in November. Hillingdon’s Youth Council and Younger Members are leading the drive for votes to ensure the views of those aged 11 to 18 in the London Borough of Hillingdon are represented. Cllr David Simmonds, Deputy Leader of Hillingdon Council and Cabinet Member for Education and Children’s Services, said: “Last year, thanks to the hard work of Hillingdon’s Youth Council, Younger Members and local schools, our borough’s young people showed their enthusiasm for the democratic process by returning the most votes in London. “We’d like to see an even more impressive turnout this year and are aiming to encourage 8,000 young people to cast their vote and tell the UK Youth Parliament about the topics that are most relevant to them.” The Make Your Mark ballot gives children and young people the opportunity to vote for one of 10 issues that they think should be a UK Youth Parliament campaign next year. Their current campaign is calling for young people aged 16 and 17 to be given the right to vote in general and local elections. Young people aged 11 to 18 in the borough can vote online now via www.mi-voice.com/mym. Voting closes on Friday 10 October. To find out more about the Youth Council and Younger Members in the London Borough of Hillingdon, visit young.hillingdon.gov.uk and click on Youth Council.