Bid to make sure young people sign up to vote with two weeks to go until registration deadline

A group of organisations who work with young people in Scotland has launched a week of action devoted to encouraging young people to register to vote in the independence referendum.

Organised by the Scottish Youth Parliament, every day throughout this week will be dedicated to ensuring Scotland’s young people are ready to have their say on September 18 by using online, digital and social media to highlight the importance of voting.

The organisations involved in Ready, Steady, Vote Week include Young Scot, YouthLink Scotland and National Union of Students (NUS) Scotland.

Louise Cameron MSYP, chair of the Scottish Youth Parliament, said it is very important that young people use their right to vote.

“It is important that we have our say about issues that affect us as young people, especially in such a major decision like the future of our country,” she continued.

“The point of Ready, Steady, Vote Week is to raise awareness of the importance of voting with young people, and to point them to sources of impartial information about voter registration and other issues so as they can make an informed decision for themselves.”

Gordon Maloney, president of the NUS in Scotland, said: “With two weeks to go before the September 2 registration deadline, it’s more important than ever that we ensure that students and young people are able to take part in the most important decision faced by Scotland in the past 300 years.

“By asking students and young people to encourage their friends to register, NUS Scotland, SYP and other participating organisations in Ready, Steady, Vote Week will help allow all sides of the debate, and Scotland as a whole, to know the impact of students and young people in determining Scotland’s future.”