Welsh Parliament hosting online events to help young people understand the democratic process in Wales.

With this year’s Senedd, or Welsh Parliament, elections as the first opportunity for 16 and 17 year olds to vote since the franchise was extended, the Welsh Parliament are hosting a series of online events to encourage more young people to better understand the democratic process here in Wales. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

 Between Monday 22 and Friday 26 February, the Senedd will be hosting a number of virtual events in English and Welsh, to explain the role of the Senedd and how young people can ensure their voices are heard in this year’s elections. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Events are set to include an introduction to the Senedd, explaining its powers and role, and a mock election debate on Friday evening. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

 Promoting the series of events, Delyn MS, Hannah Blythyn said: ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“I have always done my better connect young people to devolved politics, regularly visiting schools and hosting Democracy in Action Days, to answer questions and discuss local issues. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Last year the Welsh Parliament passed landmark legislation to allow 16 and 17 year olds, and EU nationals, to vote in Welsh Parliament elections, and I want to encourage as many young people as possible to ensure their voice is heard. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

These events are designed to ensure that young people have as much information as possible about how they can have their say in our democracy” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

To engage more children and young people in politics and democracy, Ms Blythyn has regularly answered questions on her role as the Member of the Senedd, and talked about local issues whilst visiting schools. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Democracy Day in Action events were also held before the coronavirus pandemic, giving secondary aged young people the opportunity to share their ideas for the future of devolution and how the Welsh Parliament can shape the future of communities here in Flintshire. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

 The events are opened to young people aged 14 to 18 and more information can be found at https://senedd.wales/vote16 ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

 Young people aged 16 and 17 are now able to register to vote in the upcoming Senedd elections, which can be done by visiting https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

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