Orkney’s prospective MSYPs count down to elections

Voting opens this Friday 15 March to elect Orkney’s two Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament (MSYPs).

The all-female candidate list for the upcoming Scottish Youth Parliament elections are, in alphabetical order,

• Rachel Evans from Shapinsay
• Elizabeth Gorn from Kirkwall
• Emma Grant from Kirkwall
• Hope Laing from Finstown
• Shavon More from Kirkwall
• Maya Tams-Gray from Rendall

A new video put together by Orkney Islands Council’s Community Learning and Development team who support candidates through their nomination and campaign has been launched on social media.

All the candidates were invited to take part in the video to tell their peers why, in 20 seconds or less, they should be elected. Over recent weeks the candidates have also been guests on BBC Radio Orkney.

The video can be viewed on the Council’s YouTube channel.

Cheryl Rafferty, from the Council's Community Learning and Development Team said: "Following Year of Young People, there’s greater awareness on the importance of having more engagement and involvement with young people, so it’s a great time to get involved in the Scottish Youth Parliament.

"Voting for a candidate who is passionate about issues that matter to you too is one way you can have your voice heard on a national level. I’d urge all young people who are eligible to vote to make sure they do just that.”

The Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP) is the democratically elected voice of Scotland's young people. It provides a national platform for young people to discuss issues important to them and affect the change they wish to see. The Scottish Youth Parliament hold elections every two years for its membership.

SYP was influential in helping secure votes for 16-year-olds in Scotland, and has also been a key voice in the campaign for equal marriage through its Love Equally campaign. SYP’s current campaign, All Aboard, focuses on improving public transport services for Scotland’s young people, calling for reduced fares, increased accessibility for disabled passengers, and higher bus standards.

The voting period will take place between Friday 15 March 2019 and Friday 29 March 2019. School pupils will cast their votes in school but anyone aged between 12 and 25, can cast their vote online, using their young Scot card number, on the Scottish Youth Parliament website.

The results will be announced on 29 March 2019.

Further information on candidates standing for election and how to vote can be found on the Scottish Youth Parliament website.