15 July 2013

Young People Urged to Enrol Before Local Govt Elections

Manurewa Local Board member Simeon Brown and Manurewa Youth Council members want to boost the number of 18-24 year olds enrolled to vote in Manurewa.

They will set up an enrolment booth in Manurewa town centre this week in the hopes of raising youth awareness of the upcoming local body elections and encourage them to participate.

“18-24 year olds are the largest age group in Manurewa, yet they have the lowest percentage of enrolment and voter turnout” says Simeon Brown.

“Youth are the ones who are impacted the most by the decisions by council, yet take little interest in the people who will be making decisions”.

Only 73% of people aged 18-24 are enrolled to vote in Manurewa, compared to 90% or more for most other age groups, 25-29 year olds being the exception.

“This is not just a problem specific to Manurewa, the entire country has lower enrolment for youth, it is time we become proactive about the situation and make youth aware of the importance of voting.” Asserts Simeon Brown, “I hope what we are doing here will be replicated around the country by youth wanting their peers to be the voice of the future.”

“It is essential that young people have a say in the future of Manurewa, voting is a great way of having your voice heard, it is democracy in action” says Matthew Ward, Manurewa Youth Council Communications Lead, who will be assisting Simeon along with other young people.

This Tuesday the 16th of July between 1pm and 3pm the Manurewa Youth Council members and Manurewa Local Board Member will be holding a booth outside Southmall in Manurewa handing out enrolment forms to encourage more people to be enrolled to vote and vote in the upcoming local govt elections.

ENDS

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