Over 2,100 young people aged 16-18 have registered to vote in time for the local government and community elections in May.

The 2021 Senedd Election was the first election in which 16 and 17-year-olds were allowed to vote in Wales. The local government and community council elections take place in Torfaen on Thursday 5 May 2022.

Young people have been featured in a Torfaen Council campaign this year to encourage teenagers to register and have their say.

At the council’s last Full Council meeting in March 2022 the chief executive Stephen Vickers praised the work done to encourage more young people to have their say. The minutes for the meeting reported: “..he informed members that around 2,142 young people aged 16-18 had registered to vote, this was out of an estimated population of just over 5k, which was up from 30% from those who registered for the Senedd Election. He recognised the real progress made and congratulated the team on their exceptional efforts. He also credited the young people who had shown an interest to the county’s democracy.”

Eighty-eight candidates will contest 40 seats across 18 wards in the Torfaen local government elections.

The voting age for the UK Parliament remains 18.

Register to vote

You have until 11.59pm on 14 April to register to vote. for the elections on Thursday 5 May 2022 The voting age for these elections is 16.