Our head of legal services, Maria Price, is advising Devon’s first-time voters to consider what matters most to them when deciding which candidate to vote for at this May’s Devon County Council elections.
Maria, the county’s returning officer who is charged with ensuring that elections are delivered fairly and correctly, has given this advice ahead of Welcome to Your Vote Week next week and Make Your Mark during March.
Devon County Council’s elections are taking place on Thursday May 1 and to take part voters must register by Friday April 11.
Sixty council seats in 58 divisions or areas – two areas, Exmouth and Broadclyst each have two elected members – will be decided, and the results will determine the new council’s priorities and the delivery of vital local services such as Public Health, adults and childrens services, roads and waste disposal.
But for many first-time voters it can be confusing to know who to support while others may question why they should vote – this is reflected in surveys that show as a percentage young people are less likely to vote than those over the age of 60 for instance.
Those sentiments are something that Maria can understand: “It can feel confusing on who to vote for,” she says. “But the most important thing is that you think about what are the issues you most care about.
“The best advice I can give is to have a look at who is standing, see what they represent, what matters to them, what are the things they are talking about and then align those things to what matters most to you.
“Ask yourself, does what the candidate is saying resonate with you? Because, ultimately, you want them to fight for the things that you care about first and foremost.”
She adds that councillors are just normal people who want to do the best for the communities that they live and work in – and if young people want to ensure that the things that matter to them are considered and prioritised by the council, the best way to make your voice heard is to vote.
She added: “The more young people who get involved the better. It is a fact that historically more older people vote as a proportion than younger people and as a result it might mean that the views of older people are better represented in council decisions because younger people aren’t voting.
“But that isn’t the way it has to be. If you don’t vote you don’t get that opportunity to put your views forward and to be heard.”
What matters most to Maria is that young people are made aware of the opportunities available to them: “It’s a really good thing to represent your views and young people should have the opportunity to have a say.
“For me it’s important that you know what your rights are, knowing what your opportunities are and where to find information so you can make an informed decision about who you want to vote for and who you want to represent you and the community in which you live.”
If you are voting for the first time, we’ve put together a useful summary of top tips to help you navigate the process and know what to expect. Visit Devon County Council’s website for more information.