The Electoral Registration Office (ERO), in partnership with CLD Youth Services in West Lothian, have created a voter registration video for young electors ahead of the local council elections in May.

The video features four local MSYPs from the Almond Valley and Linlithgow constituencies. They talk about the local council elections in May, why it is important to cast your vote and explain how you can register to vote.

The MSYPs also discuss some of the ways in which young people can participate locally. They cite examples of how their roles as MSYPs have allowed them to do this.

When Are The Local Council Elections?

The local council elections are due to take place on Thursday 5 May 2022.

In order to vote in these elections you must be: –

• Registered to vote at an address in Scotland
• Aged 16 or over on the day of the election
• A British or Irish citizen, or a citizen of another country who has permission to enter or stay in the UK or who doesn’t require such permission.

How Do You register?

You can go online to register to vote at gov.uk/register-to-vote – it only takes a few minutes.

Alternatively, you can contact our office on 0131 344 2500 and register over the phone, or you can request a paper application is issued by post.

The deadline for applications to register to vote before these elections is at midnight on Monday 18 April 2022.

How do you apply to vote by post or proxy?

If you are unable to go to the polling station on election day, you can apply for a postal or proxy vote. In order to vote by post or proxy you must submit an application to vote by post or by proxy to the ERO.

The closing date for absent vote applications for these elections are: –

• Postal Vote Applications – 5pm on Tuesday 19 April 2022
• Proxy Vote Applications – 5pm on Tuesday 26 April 2022

When making an absent vote application you will require to provide your date of birth and signature. These will be used to verify your postal voting statement during the count.

What voting system is used?

In this election you will be voting using numbers. Place a 1 in the box beside your first choice, 2 for your second choice and so on. You can vote for as many or as few candidates as you wish.

This voting system is called the Single Transferrable Vote (STV). A short video, made by the Electoral Commission, explaining how the STV system works is available here.

For more information on how to register to vote or on voting by post/proxy visit our website at lothian-vjb.gov.uk/electoral.