Young people across the Highlands are encouraged to register to vote

11th March 2025

Photograph of Young people across the Highlands are encouraged to register to vote

The Highland Council is taking part in the 2025 Welcome to Your Vote Week campaign run by the Electoral Commission which launches today (Monday 10 March).

Every year the Electoral Commission asks schools, colleges, youth groups and universities to celebrate democracy by teaching democratic education with their students and young people.

The campaign's theme this year is "get informed and get involved". Anyone working with young people are encouraged to support them to access trustworthy information to get informed about politics, democracy and elections, and take the first steps to get involved locally. Whether it's discovering who represents them in their area, exploring the issues that matter most to them, or making a positive impact in their community, there are lots of ways young people can get informed and get involved.

The Returning Officer for the Highlands, Derek Brown said: "We are delighted to support this national campaign and have circulated the wide array of resources specifically created by the Electoral Commission to all our secondary schools.

"In Scotland, you can register to vote when you're 14. With a Scottish Parliamentary election taking place in 2026, at which 16-year-olds will be eligible to vote, this campaign is perfectly timed to start conversations with young people about democracy, politics, and all aspects of voting - to get informed, get involved and register to vote now."

Registering to vote takes just five minutes if you do it online. If you’re 16 or older, all you’ll need is your National Insurance number. If you’re under 16, you won’t be asked to supply a National Insurance number.

To register to vote visit here (external link)alternatively, you can contact the Electoral Registration Officer on 0800 393 783 and ask for a paper application form.

The Highland Youth Convener Lauren McKittrick is hoping Welcome To Your Vote week spurs on young people to get registered so they can take part in the Scottish Parliamentary elections next year.

She said: “Young people are the voices of the future. In Scotland we are in a privileged position of allowing 16+ year olds to vote in Scottish Parliamentary elections. This week, we really want to encourage young people to find out more about the democratic process and to understand just how much their vote counts in ensuring the issues that matter to them reach the voices who can make change."

Welcome to Your Vote Week runs until Sunday 16 March 2025 and more information on the campaign can be found on the Electoral Commission website

 

Related Businesses

 

Related Articles

Today : Local Authority

 
Eilidh Primrose is the New Highland Youth Convener

The Highlands has a new young people’s champion after confirmation that Eilidh Primrose has taken up the role of Highland Youth Convener for 2026-27.   Twenty-two-year-old Eilidh, who lives in Inverness, is the 18th person appointed to the position and has taken over from Leah McBain.  

1/9/2026 : Local Authority

What Changes in Highland Today? New Rules for Private Hire Drivers and a Fresh Garden Waste Year

For most people in Highland, 1 September is simply the start of another month.  But today also marks the beginning of two changes introduced by Highland Council which will affect different groups of residents.  

2/9/2026 : Local Authority

 
Candidates for Highland Council Ward 3 Wick and East Caithness By-Election confirmed

Following today’s deadline for nominations, The Highland Council can confirm the details of the 5 candidates that are standing in the Ward 3 Wick and East Caithness by-election.  There are 5 candidaes.  

31/8/2026 : Local Authority

Head Teacher at Thurso High School, outlined measures that have helped improve educational outcomes

Highland Council’s strategy to raise attainment in the region is making good progress, with encouraging early data emerging from this year's examination results.   Last week councillors on the education committee noted the work undertaken in Highland Council's Education and Learning Improvement Plan (ELIP) and the associated Raising Attainment and Achievement Strategy (RAAS).  

28/8/2026 : Local Authority

Council Funded Advice services assist 25,000 customers and exceed £30.3 million in financial gains

Almost 25,000 customers were assisted by the Council’s Welfare Support Team and Citizens Advice during 2025/26 for support with welfare, debt and housing issues.   As a result, financial gains for clients exceeded £30.3 million, representing a £18.84 return for every £1 allocated to these services by the Council.  

28/8/2026 : Local Authority

 
Do We Need a New Kind of Cemetery? Could Highland's Greenspaces Help Make Funerals More Affordable?

There may be no more appropriate time to ask Highland Council whether we need to rethink the way we remember those who have died.   The Council has just launched a six-week consultation on its draft Greenspace Biodiversity Management Strategy 2026-2030.  

26/8/2026 : Local Authority

The Triple Squeeze: Energy, Mortgages and Council Tax — How Much More Can Households Take?

There is a point at which individual increases in household costs stop being individual problems and become something much bigger.   A £100 increase in the annual energy bill may be manageable.  

24/8/2026 : Local Authority

Thurso Schools: Public Meeting and Statutory Consultation – Key Dates

Highland Council has now formally launched its statutory consultation on proposals to replace Thurso High School and reorganise primary school provision in the town.   The consultation concerns the proposed relocation of Thurso High School, Pennyland Primary School and Miller Academy Primary School to a new education campus based around the existing Thurso High School site and the proposed Community Point of Delivery.  

21/8/2026 : Local Authority

Public consultation to help shape future policy protecting Highland's dark skies

Councillors have approved the launch of a public consultation on draft guidance aimed at reducing light pollution across the Highlands, supporting environmental protection, public wellbeing and the area's internationally recognised dark skies.   Members of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee yesterday (Thursday 20 August) agreed to publish the draft Reducing Light Pollution: Good Practice Guidance for consultation, once minor clarifications are included, giving residents, communities, businesses and developers the opportunity to help shape future policy.  

21/8/2026 : Local Authority

Highland bus service improvement plans

The Highland Council's Economy and Infrastructure Committee has endorsed plans to launch a 12-week public consultation on a proposed Highland Bus Service Improvement Partnership (BSIP), giving communities, passengers and stakeholders the opportunity to help shape the future of bus services across the region.   The consultation will seek views on draft proposals developed by The Highland Council in partnership with HITRANS and bus operators to improve the operational performance, accessibility, attractiveness and consistency of bus services across Highland.