Why vote?

As soon as you turn 18, you have the right to vote. Voting allows you to help chose the politicians who make decisions about how the country is run. You vote during elections:

• There are local, national and European elections
• You can vote for a politician you support
• You can vote for a political party whose aims you agree with

Voting is very important. It is what allows you to take part in the government of the country. But even if you're too young to vote, there are other ways that you can get involved and influence decision making, locally and nationally.

Your right to vote

You have the right to vote in local and general elections as soon as you turn 18, but to do so your name must be on the Register of Electors.

You can add your name to this list as soon as you turn 16 by using the form sent to every household each Autumn, or by picking one up from your local council office. You can also apply to register online or by phone.

The council must have your form before April if you want to vote in a May election.

Key link: www.aboutmyvote.co.uk

Too young to vote?

Some people believe that 16 year olds should be given the right to vote and this is currently being considered by Parliament. You can join the votes at 16 campaign online.

Other ways to participate

If you're too young to vote, or just want to get more involved in the democratic process, there are other ways to get your voice heard. You can:

• Join committees or funding bodies
• Join your local Youth Council or School Council
• Become a young person trustee
• Take part in consultations
• Stand for Youth Parliament

You can find out about all sorts of different ways to have your say locally on Big Voice Oxfordshire.