Young people urged to get ready to vote

Young people across South Tyneside are being reminded they need to be registered to be able to cast their vote on Election Day, this May.

Anyone who is not registered to vote or who has not applied to be added to the Electoral Register by Monday 18 April 2016 will not be able to take part and have their say.

The call comes as part of National Voter Registration Drive, which is running until Sunday 7 February.

On Thursday 5 May, voters in South Tyneside will go to the polls to elect local government councillors to represent them on South Tyneside Council and to elect a Police and Crime Commissioner for the Northumbria area.

Young people who are 18 or over on 5 May 2016 are eligible to vote at the elections and those over the age of 16 can register to vote now for the future.

Of those young people eligible to vote in the 2015 elections, only 56 per cent cast their vote in South Tyneside.

Young people have historically been less likely to be registered to vote than those in other age groups.

Research conducted by the Electoral Commission has indicated that around 30 per cent of 18-24 year olds are not registered to vote compared to less than five per cent of those aged over 65.

The deadline to register to vote for the May 2016 elections is Monday 18 April.

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