Make Your Voice Heard By Alice Cleave
Voting in Wales
The upcoming Senedd elections on the 6th May 2021 are the first elections in Wales in which 16 and 17-year-olds can vote. This means that this election is more important than ever for young people in Wales; it is a chance for everyone to have their say about the future of Wales.
Why politics is amazing
Many people find politics boring or think that it doesn't impact them. I don't believe that this is true. Politics affects everything we do, from what you learn in school to why there are street lights. Politics is crucial in everything that we do, and that's why you must use your vote to have your say in your future. I don't expect everyone to get as excited about politics as I do, but it's not something that can be ignored and the more you know, the more confident you will be in voting. I love politics because it helps answer questions about how the country works and why certain things happen. Anyone who knows me knows that I love to ask questions and that when I start talking about politics, it's tough to get me to stop. That's why I'm writing this to spread some of my knowledge and hopefully to encourage more people to vote, especially young people.
How does it work?
Did you know that every person in Wales is represented by five members of the Senedd, not just one like in the UK Parliament? Wales is split into 40 constituencies and five regions.
Each of the constituencies has one member of the Senedd, and the five regions have four regional members of the Senedd. The 40 constituency members and the 20 regional members make up the 60 members of the Senedd.
When it comes to election day, everyone who is registered to vote in Wales has two votes in the Senedd election. One is for an individual to represent your constituency (local area), and one for a party or individual to represent your region. For example, I am represented by my constituency member for Alyn and Deeside and the four regional members for North Wales. This makes voting in Welsh elections different from voting in UK elections as in Wales they use two different election systems. The First Past the Post system is used to elect the constituency representatives, and the Additional Member System is used to elect the regional members. If you are interested in finding out more information about the election system in Wales, try watching this video:
The role of the Senedd
The role of the Senedd is to provide representation, scrutiny of the Welsh government and to legislate. Members of the Senedd represent the views of their constituents and regions and try to act in their best interests while taking part in debates and committees. They also have to hold the Welsh government to account by ensuring that the First Minister and the other government ministers act in the country's best interest and the people. Members of the Senedd can question the government's actions and scrutinise the bills that they want to pass into law. Even if the members of the Senedd aren't part of the government, they still have the opportunity to propose their own bills.
Why you should vote
Voting can be very daunting if you have never voted before, but that shouldn't discourage you. If you are not sure what you need to do when you get to the polling station, make sure to ask one of the volunteers, and they will be able to help you. If you are worried about who to vote for, take some time to do a bit of internet research or talk to family members or friends. Think about what matters most to you and the issues that you think are important. Do you believe that the environment is the most critical issue? Or do you believe that education or healthcare is essential in Wales? Make a list of important topics to you, and then look at what the different parties want to do about them. Think carefully about who you want to vote for but remember that you decide who you vote for. Voting is important, and voting makes a difference, so make sure to use yours.
Thanks for reading!