As the general election looms a 'day of action' to encourage as many people as possible to register to vote is planned for February 5 – National Voter Registration Day.
Organised by Bite the Ballot, the not for profit national organisation that works to raise voting awareness among young people, the effort is being supported by Cornwall Council’s elections team and Cornwall College Student Union.
William Haslam from Bite the Ballot will be out and about in the duchy before and after National Voter Registration Day to visit campuses as well as additional events at Falmouth University.
02 February - Rosewarne College at midday
02 February - Camborne College at 2pm
03 February - Falmouth Marine School at 9am
03 February - Newquay College at 2pm
04 February - Falmouth Marine School at 9am
04 February - Saltash College at 2pm
05 February - St Austell College at 12.45pm
06 February - MP Grill at Woodlane Campus (Falmouth University) 5.30pm
09 February - Stoke Climsland at 1pm
11 February - Redruth School at 11.30am
13 February - MP Grill at Penryn Campus at 5.30pm
William said: "Cornwall College has 35,000 students and around 60 per cent of those are eligible to vote. It is important that young people use their right to vote and I want to inspire young people to realise that they can make a difference.
"Over the past few months, I have been working closely with Cornwall Council to meet with young people by visiting colleges, schools and Falmouth University. We take along a backdrop of Number 10 Downing Street so that we can have a bit of fun by taking a selfie but at the same time we can raise awareness of the importance of registering to vote and how they can do it online.
"We've had a lot of interesting discussions with young people who told us they prefer to be informed face to face, and we've had hundreds of registrations.”
Andrew Wallis, the Council’s Lead Member Young People said: “It is vital that young people get involved if they want to make sure their voice is heard
“Research shows that older people are traditionally the largest group who vote in national elections which means that their concerns and issues are taken seriously by the main political parties. I want to see decision makers listen to and act on the concerns and issues facing younger people and so it is vital that they register and use their vote.”
Tony Woolman, president of Cornwall College Students Union said: “There has been a long term and growing discontentment in Britain’s on-going electoral system; and in the politicians who stand within it across the whole of our society.
"Those that find themselves as current students at times of UK elections are often no exception. There are many young adults who are never inspired by those of us in power to become active participants in good democracy.
"The Cornwall College Groups’ Students’ Union is proud to be part of small but significant counter-action to the usual `turn-off’ to ordinary people being engaged in democracy. With the help of Bite The Ballot, the Students’ Union in Cornwall hope to encourage as many eligible students who can vote, to register themselves to do so; and make a difference in the up-and-coming excitement that is the UK General Election.”
Schools, colleges, youth clubs or universities interested in receiving a session from Bite The Ballot are invited to e-mail cornwall@bitetheballot.co.uk.
To find out more about BTB visit www.facebook.com/xlistcornwall and to register to vote online, using your address and National Insurance number, go to www.gov.uk/register-to-vote.
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