Voting is underway in the Scottish Youth Parliament elections and young people across Inverclyde are being encouraged to cast their vote.

The online poll opened on Monday (8 November 2021) and closes on Sunday 21 November 2021 at 4pm with three candidates vying for two local seats.

Bidding to become a Member of the Scottish Youth Parliament (MSYP) for Inverclyde are:

• Caden James Arthur
• Maya McCrae and
• Keziah Rugumya.

Inverclyde Council leader Stephen McCabe, who is also children and young people spokesperson for COSLA, met the hopefuls to lend his support and to encourage young people to get voting online at home, in school or at one of two local polling stations being set up especially for the election at the Greenock and Port Glasgow iYouthZones.

Councillor McCabe said:

“The Scottish Youth Parliament and our MSYPs have proven to be influential over the years in raising awareness of important issues affecting young people and helping to deliver change at the highest levels.

“We have three excellent candidates who would be great ambassadors for Inverclyde and represent the views of their peers at a national level and I wish them all the very best.

“The views of our young people has never been more important following the impact of the coronavirus pandemic and the key role they continue to play in raising awareness of the climate emergency, as illustrated in recent days during the COP26 conference in Glasgow.

“That’s why I urge as many of our young people as possible to cast their vote in this election and play their part in making sure the voices of young people are heard.”

Anyone aged 12-25 can vote to select their MSYPs for the next two years.

Young people can cast their votes online now and events will also be taking place in all six secondary schools next week to encourage students to get involved.

Those aged 18-25 who cannot vote in school can do so at Port Glasgow iYouthZone, next to Boglestone Community Centre, on Monday 15 November or at Greenock iYouthZone, on Nicolson Street in the town centre, on Thursday 18 November, both from 6-8pm.

Candidate Caden, who is 15 and attends Port Glasgow High, said:

“I want to be an MSYP for Inverclyde because I want to do something that can have a positive impact on other people’s lives.

“I want to make sure that all young people are treated fairly, regardless of any differences between us and that all of their voices are heard because the young people of Inverclyde deserve no less.”

Fellow hopeful Maya, who is 16 and is a student at Clydeview Academy, said:

“I want to be an MSYP for so many reasons.

“Politics plays a massive part in our lives and I think it’s important that young people especially get a say in today’s society.

“I think I’ve got a lot to offer to the Scottish Youth Parliament as I’m very opinionated, educated and have many ideas on how to improve life, even a little, for lots of people.”

Keziah, who is 17 and goes to Inverclyde Academy, said:

“I want to become an MSYP to be able to represent Inverclyde’s young people and bring change.

“I plan on working hard to achieve good grades for uni, to study politics and international relations and hopefully achieve my dream of working with United Nations or working in parliament to help with immigration and inequality.”

For more information about the three Inverclyde candidates and to vote, visit http://elections.youngscot.org.