Half a million young people say yes to politics

The general election has created a buzz among school students as half a million young people take part in country-wide mock elections. Over 1,900 schools have signed up to take part in the Y Vote 2005 Mock Elections and with schools able to register through www.mockelections.co.uk right up until polling day, many more are expected to get involved. As polling day draws nearer, more and more students are enjoying the cut and thrust of political debate as they canvass for votes, deliver speeches and organise hustings.

[ClickPress, Wed Apr 20 2005] The Y Vote 2005 Mock Elections, run by the Hansard Society and supported by The Electoral Commission and the Department for Education and Skills, was launched in February and is attracting great interest from both primary and secondary schools throughout the UK.

Mock elections have been run by the Hansard Society since the 1950s, with the aim of actively engaging students with the electoral process. Pupils nationwide are learning about the political, social and moral issues of the world by standing as party candidates, speech writers and canvassers in a mock election.

Michael Raftery, Mock Elections Project Manager at the Hansard Society said:

“The fact that half a million young people are actively taking part in this election shows how inaccurate it is to say they don’t care about politics. The Y Vote Mock Elections mirror the excitement and buzz of a real election. They enable students to fully participate, from standing as party candidates, writing speeches and canvassing support, to building ballot boxes and designing campaign posters. Mock elections are a great way to help students understand how the democratic process works. “

For further information contact: Michael Raftery on 020 7395 4019 or email citizenship@hansard.lse.ac.uk

Editors’ Notes
• The Hansard Society has developed a comprehensive teacher resource pack – downloadable at www.mockelections.co.uk - which can be interpreted according to the level of students’ understanding of the political process. The pack contains teachers’ notes and supporting materials, including a step-by-step guide to the mock elections, ballot papers and registration forms, activity ideas, manifesto guides to all the political parties represented at Westminster, and key curriculum links.
• The Hansard Society is an independent, non-partisan educational charity which exists to promote effective parliamentary democracy. It works with young people through schools and colleges to develop innovative ways to involve them in participatory democratic activities.
• The Electoral Commission is an independent body established by UK Parliament. It aims to ensure public confidence and participation in the democratic process within the United Kingdom through modernisation of the electoral process and promotion of public awareness of electoral matters.

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