E-Zine Article
Ezine article: Your Voice Matters!
Every year we join the Electoral Commission in promoting Welcome to Your Vote Week for young people. This year Welcome to Your Vote Week is being held on Monday 9th March to Sunday 15th March 2026. The theme is “Why Voting Matters.” With the next Scottish Parliamentary election taking place on 7th May 2026, we want to support young people to learn about democracy and think about how you can make your voice heard, helping you to become engaged and empowered.
Right now, more people can vote in Scotland than ever before; 16- and 17-year-olds can vote in Scottish Parliamentary and council elections. It doesn’t matter where you were born or what your nationality is, as long as you live in Scotland. You can check if you are registered to vote in Clackmannanshire, Falkirk or Stirling Council areas by contacting us:
- email – [email protected]
- phone – 01786 892289
You can also check out our socials for our latest information and posts. Give us a follow and share with your family and friends:
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How do I register to vote?
Registering to vote is quick and easy to do! If you are not registered to vote you can go online and register at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote , you will need your National Insurance Number to complete the application which only takes 5 minutes. You can also apply over the phone or contact us to request a paper form. Alternatively, you can scan the QR code at the top of this article which will take you straight to the government website. The deadline for registration for the Scottish Parliament election is Monday 20th April by midnight.
Do I need photo ID for the Scottish elections?
No, you do not need to provide photo ID for the elections being held on 7th May 2026. You only need photo ID for UK Parliamentary elections.
Accessibility
Registering to vote should be accessible to everyone. We have been working on improving access to our services. Our QR codes are Navilens readable and you will find one at the top of this page.
You can contact us by phone using the Scottish Governments BSL interpretation Service, Contact Scotland.
If you are affected by sight loss, we can arrange to send correspondence by large print/braille. Please contact us by phone or email to arrange this for future correspondence.
If you are a BSL user, check out our website which has a BSL video explaining how to register to vote…
https://youtu.be/_yj5j_BhEyU?si=xNHf4BRbmwvKdla5
Coming Soon!
Check your letterbox in March! The Electoral Commission will also be producing a household information booklet which will include details about registering to vote, voting and the support that is available to help the public.
This will be distributed to homes across Scotland from Monday 23rd March and soon after the content will be available on their website in a number of accessible formats (BSL video, audio, Easy Read and large print) and translations (Gaelic, Polish, Arabic and Ukrainian).
And remember…
Welcome to Your Vote Week is an opportunity to discuss the importance of voting and democracy in your area and what it means to you. Make sure you are registered to vote; it is your right and your responsibility.
Check our website www.centralscotland-vjb.gov.uk for more information.
