5,000 young people vote for Islington youth council representatives
Youth councillors with Islington mayor Cllr Barry Edwards - Credit: Archant
12 victors out of 27 elected in higher than previous turn out
Almost 5,000 young people took to the ballot box to vote for fellow teens to represent them on the local youth council.
A record 4,917 youngsters aged 11 to 17 exercised their democratic right to pick the 12 youth councillors, who were unveiled on Thursday at the Islington Assembly Hall, in Upper Street Islington.
With an estimated 10,000 11 to 17 years old in the borough, voter turn out was almost 50 per cent, compared to nearer 25 per cent in the Junction and St George’s ward by-elections earlier this year.
The youth council will be sworn in on February 1 for a two year term – and before then they will elect a mayor from among their number.
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Cllr Joe Caluori, Islington Council’s executive member for children and families, said: “The increased voter turn-out for the youth council elections is a sign of the interest young people in Islington have in the real issues that affect them. I wish the best of luck to our 12 new youth councillors in the year ahead.”
A total of 27 candidates battled it out with manifestos focussing on crime and safety, education, fairness, health and wellbeing, youth employment and youth provision.
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All 11 to 17-year-olds in the borough were eligible to vote on November 27 and ballot boxes were set up in all secondary schools as well as City and Islington College, in Holloway Road, Holloway and in Platform and Lift youth hubs, in Hornsey Road, Holloway and White Lion Street, Islington, respectively.
A postal vote was also available.
The elected candidates for the Islington Youth Council for 2014-16 are Anastasia Aidoo, Taiga Asada, Kia Helena Augustin, Isaiah Fadeyi, Ryan Mackin, Abu Mensah, Christiane Pangula, Rachel Ramus, Shanaz Shaw, Zenari Singh, Tanjina Uddin And Hiba Warsame.
