Voice2Vote supporting guidance Vote

1 This guidance will help you to use the Voice2Vote resource pack, giving hints and tips to make the sessions as successful as possible. Hints and tips to help you Voice2Vote host your own Voice2Vote Supporting guidance sessions.

This guidance will help you to use the Voice2Vote resource pack, giving hints and tips to make the session as successful as possible.

Encouraging democratic engagement and increasing the numbers of young people on the electoral register is really important. If you are not on the register, you cannot vote. Voice2Vote is the perfect way to inspire young people to discuss and debate what they care about whilst considering why they should register to vote.

This supporting guidance contains hints and tips, curriculum information and frequently asked questions to help you get the most out of the Voice2Vote resource pack, ensure the success of your sessions and get many young people signed up to the electoral register in no time. Hints and Tips This section contains hints and tips to help you plan your sessions and includes further activities and information you can use to keep your group enthused and energised. Curriculum for Wales This section outlines how Voice2Vote can be used to support the curriculum in Wales and suggests further related resources and information. Frequently Asked Questions This section answers common questions about registering and voting that you or your group may have.

REGISTER TO VOTE: � Remind them to check at home that they can complete the invitation to register form sent to the household as part of the annual canvass. � They can register to vote online during Voice2Vote at bit.ly/Voice2Vote. � If they don’t have internet access they can print forms off at 1 bit.ly/RegistrationFormWales. Hints and tips

Getting Started Before using Voice2Vote remember to tell people participating in advance that they may be asked for their National Insurance number, but they do not have to have one to register. Remind them to check at home that they can complete the invitation to register form sent to the household as part of the annual canvass.

They can also register to vote online at bit.ly/Voice2Vote. You can do this on a mobile, tablet or laptop.

If you do not have access to the internet during the session then you can print off blank registration forms online at bit.ly/RegistrationFormWales. Alternatively, your local Electoral Registration Office can provide you with the appropriate forms and perhaps send someone along to your session who can explain more to your group about registering and voting. Their contact details can also be found on The Electoral Commission website: www.electoralcommission.org.uk/. Remember that any completed forms you receive from young people will need to be stored securely in compliance with General Data Protection Regulation. If members of your group are from different areas then their completed registration forms will need to be sent back to the appropriate Electoral Registration Office.

Using local information and examples Make the activities as relevant to your local area as possible by looking up statistics relating to your Member of Parliament (MP) and Member of the Senedd (MS). You can find out who your local MP, MS or Councillor are by typing your postcode into the Write to Them website: www.writetothem.com. Alternatively, you can find your local MP using the search engine here: members.parliament.uk/FindYourMP; and your local MS here: bit.ly/FindYourMS. What is happening in your area? Some of the activities are designed to make learners think of issues and relate them to specific policy areas for which elected bodies are responsible. These will differ from area to area. Adapt the facts and examples used in any of the activities to take into account local factors. Flexibility What next? You can run the activities Once you have run session 1 in Voice2Vote you could follow in the order suggested up with other activities in the resource pack and encourage on pages 2 and 3 of the your group to register to vote. Pages 27, 28 and 29 of resource pack, change the the Voice2Vote resource pack also has examples of other order to suit you or run resources that you may find useful. activities individually.

2 Curriculum for Wales

The Voice2Vote learning resource can be used in a variety of contexts including schools, collages, youth organisations and other extra- curricular activities.

The theme of Active Citizenship encourages learners to become active in both their local communities and on a more global level. They can develop a practical understanding of their rights and of links between political decisions and their own lives.

The following information relates to the new Curriculum for Wales 2022: „ The Voice2Vote learning resource will support learners to become ‘ethical, informed citizens of Wales and the world’, one of the four purposes of a school’s curriculum. „ The resources will specifically support our young people to develop as ethical, informed citizens who ‘understand and exercise their human and democratic responsibilities and rights.’ „ The main integral skills developed in the activities are critical thinking and problem-solving and personal effectiveness. „ Main Area of Learning and Experience: Humanities „ The Voice2Vote learning resource have been designed to be used mainly with learners aged between 13 and 17 but can be adapted, simplified, or extended to be used with all learners on progression steps 4 + 5 and post-16. Suggested use: Year 7-11: Personal and Social Education (PSE) / Wellbeing (or similar lessons) Post-16: Assembly / Contemporary Studies

„ Also, for post-16 learners, some of the issues and topics explored in the sessions could be beneficial for completion of the Individual Project as part of the Skills Challenge Certificate and Welsh Baccalaureate Qualification. „ For Essential Skills Wales, activities can be used to introduce discussion of roles and levels of government and about electoral processes.

3 Curriculum for Wales continued

All the focus on Wales … Session 3 : We’ve got the power (pages 10-16 in your Voice2Vote resource pack)

The activities in this session focuses specifically on the different levels of government in Wales and corresponds to the Devolution and Welsh Parliament PowerPoint presentation on Hwb.

There are five different activities, with alternative options and ideas to adapt or extend all activities.

3.1 Opening exercise (10 minutes) Introduce your group to the idea of devolution. 3.2 Who’s in power? (20 minutes) Challenge your group to divide powers to different levels of government and use class discussion and group persuasion to correct wrong answers. 3.3 Getting in touch (15 minutes) Working in small groups, use problems/complaints cards to learn how having different levels of government works in practice. 3.4 Government or Parliament? (10 minutes) Use visuals to quiz and learn about the differences between the Welsh Government and the Welsh Parliament. 3.5 Final exercise (5 minutes) A summarise activity to recap what your group have learned about the Welsh Parliament (Senedd Cymru).

4 Curriculum for Wales continued

More educational resources and information to support the curriculum:

Welsh Parliament: Education Welsh Parliament’s Education and Youth Engagement service has a range of teaching resources available online, including information about educational trips and virtual sessions. Their online resources have educational packs for all ages, including activities, videos, and vlogs. bit.ly/WelshParliamentEducation

Our Senedd A series of animated videos and resources for Year 7 to A Level teachers and youth workers to use with learners to explore what is the Welsh Parliament, and how government and decision- making works in Wales. Includes a personal and social education session, a series of school assemblies and resources for a youth group session. Available on Hwb: bit.ly/OurSeneddV2V

Welsh Baccalaureate Support � ‘How to Succeed in Your Welsh Bacc: The Individual Project Essentials / Sut i Lwyddo yn dy Fagloriaeth: Hanfodion y Prosiect Unigol’: a free online short course designed specifically to help prepare for the Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate – Individual Project. The Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) will support all post-16 students as they prepare to complete the WBQ project, EPQ project or even a university style essay/ dissertation. Available both in English and Welsh. www.futurelearn.com/courses/welshbacc

� Welsh Baccalaureate support by Aberystwyth University, The Welsh Parliament and The National Library of Wales includes three workshops of no more than an hour each. Various topics have been covered by each institution and will greatly benefit the journey to completing the individual project to the best of their ability. www.aber.ac.uk/en/undergrad/hub/online-course/

� Welsh Baccalaureate Experience at Aberystwyth, designed for students studying the Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Diploma and is usually available for schools and colleges throughout Wales. Chance to visit and experience workshops based on the qualification at The International Politics Department at Aberystwyth University, The National Library of Wales, and The Welsh Government. www.library.wales/fileadmin/addysg/pdf/aberystwythbacexperience.pdf

5 Frequently asked questions

General Questions: Why is it important that young people register now? Only around half of young people who are eligible are currently registered to vote.1 Young people are also less likely to vote in elections - in the 2019 General election only an estimated 47% of 18-24 year olds voted.2 Once registered you have the choice whether to vote or not; if you are not on the register, you will not be able to vote. Not being on the register can also affect a person’s credit rating and access to financial services.

Who can register to vote?  Anyone in Wales aged 14 and over can apply to be added to the electoral register. They cannot vote in Welsh Parliament elections in Wales until they are 16, and in UK Parliamentary elections until they are 18, but by registering before then they can vote as soon as they are eligible.  Citizens from the following areas can register to vote in UK general elections: - The UK - Republic of Ireland - Qualifying Commonwealth citizens - The Channel Islands - The Isle of Man - British Overseas Territory (if they live in the UK).  In Welsh Parliament elections, EU citizens and qualifying foreign citizens can also register to vote.

How do people get onto the electoral register? 1. You can register online. Go to bit.ly/Voice2Vote. 2. You can print blank forms from bit.ly/RegistrationFormWales and send them to your local Electoral Registration office.3 3. Blank forms can also be requested from your local Electoral Registration Office and returned to them.

Is there a deadline for filling out an electoral registration form? You can apply to be added to the electoral register at any time but you must submit your registration form 12 working days before an election is held in order to be able to vote in that particular election or referendum.

Do I need a National Insurance Number (NINO) to register to vote? You should automatically get a NINO just before your 16th birthday. However, since you can register to vote in Wales from aged 14 onwards, you do not need a NINO to register to vote.

6 Frequently asked questions continued

What if I’m over 16 and haven’t had a National Insurance number? You’ll normally be sent a National Insurance number automatically, in the 3 months before your 16th birthday. If you’re aged 16 to 19 and did not get one, call HM Revenue and Customs on 0300 200 3500. If you do not have a National Insurance number, you must apply for one if you plan to work, apply for a student loan or claim benefifts. For more information, visit www.gov.uk/national-insurance.

What if I have lost my National Insurance number (NINO)? You can find your National Insurance number on your payslip, P60 or tax return. If you still can’t find it, visitwww.gov.uk/lost-national-insurance-number .

What about people who have never had a National Insurance number? � There is a small cohort of people entitled to vote but with no entitlement to get a National Insurance number (e.g. because they are under 16, are not working/claiming benefit or are working but are not liable to pay UK National Insurance contributions).

� DWP/HMRC policy and regulations will not allow National Insurance numbers to be allocated to such persons for the purposes of Individual Electoral Registration (IER). In these circumstances, Electoral Registration Officers will ask for additional documentary evidence to be provided, such as a passport or driving license.

How can I vote if I will be on holiday during the election? Postal voting is an alternative method of voting for electors who, for whatever reason, are unable to cast their vote in person on polling day and thus enables voters to participate who might not otherwise have been able to do so. Appointing a proxy, another person to vote on an elector’s behalf, provides a further method of voting, with the proxy being able to cast the elector’s vote either in person at the polling station or by post.

Some of the young people are not UK citizens. Can they register to vote?  Irish and Qualifying Commonwealth citizens can register to vote and can take part in all elections. More on this, including a list of the countries, is available on The Electoral Commission website.  Citizens of European Union (EU) member states can also register and vote in elections, apart from UK Parliament elections.  Qualifying foreign citizens living in Wales can register to vote at Welsh Parliament elections. This means someone who has permission to enter or stay in the UK (including refugees and asylum seekers who have been given leave to remain), or who does not need such permission. More information on registering to vote can be found on The Electoral Commission website. If you have any questions about this please contact your local Electoral Registration Office.

7 Frequently asked questions continued

How does being on the electoral register relate to credit rating? The electoral register can be used for credit referencing purposes to counteract fraud. If you are not on it you might find it more difficult to get a mobile phone contract or be approved for a mortgage, for example.

Will the young people’s details be used for anything other than registration? Registration officers keep two registers – the electoral register and the open register (also known as the edited register).

The electoral register lists the names and addresses of everyone who is registered to vote in elections. The register is used for electoral purposes, such as making sure only eligible people can vote. It is also used for other limited purposes specified in law including for detecting crime (e.g. fraud), calling people for jury service and checking credit applications.

The open register is an extract of the electoral register but is not used for elections. It can be bought by any person, company, or organisation. It is mainly used by businesses and charities to confirm name and address details.

Names and addresses will be included in the open register unless you ask for them to be removed at the time of registering. Removing your details from the open register does not affect your right to vote and opting out of the open register will not affect your credit rating.

Information on those aged under 16 cannot be included on any version of the register that is made available or published elsewhere. Flyers that you can use with your students to answer questions such as: ‘What happens to my personal details?’ are available on The Electoral Commission’s website.

8 Specific Wales Questions:

As a young person living in Wales, what can I vote for and when? Young people aged 16 and over can now vote in Senedd elections, where you choose your representatives in the Welsh Parliament. The next elections are scheduled to be in May 2021 and are usually held every five years. When you turn 18 you can vote in other elections such as ones for the UK Parliament, your local council4 or your region’s Police and Crime Commissioner.

Why do we have two votes in the Welsh Parliament (Senedd) election? You have two votes at the Senedd election - one to decide who you’d like to represent your local area as a Member of the Senedd, and the other to decide which party or individual candidate you’d like to represent your wider region.

What is the difference between an MP and MS? MPs (Member of Parliament) are elected politicians who work in the House of Commons in Westminster, helping to make laws for the whole of the UK. Your MS (Member of the Senedd) works in the Welsh Parliament in Cardiff Bay, doing a similar job in helping to make laws for Wales.

What is the difference between Welsh Parliament (Senedd) and UK Parliament? The Welsh Parliament passes laws that are relevant to Wales only - the UK Parliament passes laws that apply to the UK as a whole, or sometimes to England only if that subject is devolved.

 Welsh Parliament, commonly known as the Senedd.  UK Parliament, commonly known as Westminster.

Where do I find information on who is my MP and my MS? You can find out who your local MP, MS or Councillor are by typing your postcode into the Write to Them website: www.writetothem.com. Alternatively, you can find your local MP using the search engine here: members.parliament.uk/FindYourMP; and your local MS here: bit.ly/FindYourMS.

What is the difference between the Welsh Parliament and the Welsh Government? The Welsh Parliament includes all 60 Members of the Senedd, from different political parties, and they vote on laws created by the Welsh Government. The Welsh Government only includes some MS, usually (but not always) from the largest political party in the Senedd.

What powers does the First Minister of Wales have? The First Minister is responsible for leading the Welsh Government in creating new laws and policies for Wales. They also represent Wales in discussions and meetings with other political leaders in the UK and abroad.

9 Further Involvement and Activities Questions:

I would like to invite the local MP/Councillor/MS to a registration event. How can I do this? You can find out who your local MP, MS or Councillor is by typing your postcode into the Write to Them website: www.writetothem.com/. A pre-populated email will then be created for you to invite your MP, MS or Councillor. Explain that you intend to run a registration event to encourage young people at your school or youth organisation to register to vote.

How else can young people get involved? Encourage young people to run their own Voice2Vote sessions with other classes in your school/ college, in the lunch hour or with their local youth group.

They can also find out who their local MP or MS is and invite them to visit their school or group or write to them about an issue they care about. Find out how MPs have voted on specific issues at the They Work For You website: www.theyworkforyou.com/.

What organisations are there to support young people to get engaged in democratic participation? There are a number of organisations which are interested in encouraging young people to engage in democratic participation, some examples are listed below.

 Welsh Youth Parliament is a youth model legislature that consists of sixty elected members of 11-18 year olds. These members will highlight and debate issues at a national level, gathering views from other young people across the country and working with those with the power to make change. You can get to know the members, learn about their work, and get involved on their website, which also includes promotional packs and downloadable information for schools, youth organisations, parents and guardians.  Youth Cymru is a major youth work charity operating within the whole of Wales. They work collaboratively with their members and other youth facing organisation to provide unique, innovative and life changing opportunities, projects, and programmes, bettering the lives of young people in Wales.  Welsh Parliament’s Education and Youth Engagement service has a range of teaching resources available online, including information about educational trips and virtual sessions. Their online resources have educational packs for all ages, including activities, videos, and vlogs.  The Youth Services Team at your local authority will have an interest in youth engagement. All youth services work with young people to develop interesting, challenging, and creative opportunities and experiences. Examples include Carmarthenshire Youth Council (CYC), Cardiff Youth Service and Ieuenctid Gwynedd Youth. Find your local youth service.

10  Urdd Gobaith Cymru, the National Voluntary Youth Organisation for children and young people between the ages of 8-25 has numerous opportunities, mainly through the medium of Welsh, to become fully rounded individuals, developing personal and social skills. Recently launched Y Sgwrs (The Conversation) is a series of digital discussions and workshops for ages 14-25 covering issues that affect young people’s lives today, including voting.  The British Youth Council is a youth-led charity which encourages young people aged 25 and under to get involved in local, national, and international democracy.  UK Youth is a national charity that empowers 700,000 young people, aged 11-25, to reach their full potential through their network of youth clubs, organisations, and programmes.  Involver is a social enterprise that works to improve student councils and student voice. Take their student voice audit on their website to test democracy in your school/collage.  UK Parliament’s Education Service includes tailored sessions and visits for post 16.  The Hansard Society’s Citizenship Education Programme’s activities include big debates online and mock elections.  The Association for Citizenship Teaching (ACT) is the subject association for Citizenship representing teachers and others involved in Citizenship education. ACT’s mission is to support the teaching of high-quality Citizenship and to promote wider public understanding of the subject.  Active Citizens FE is a Community Interest Company and network for those interested in providing excellent citizenship education, social action and learner voice in post-16 education and training. The network offers a wide range of teaching resources for post-16 citizenship.

I still have questions, who can I ask? To find out who is eligible and how to complete the form, contact your local council’s Electoral Registration Office by calling your local authority. You can find these details on The Electoral Commission website.

www.electoralcommission.org.uk/

FOOTNOTES 1 See www.electoral-reform.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Young- People-in-Wales-welsh-power-report.pdf 2 www.ipsos.com/ipsos-mori/en-uk/how-britain-voted-2019-election 3 You can find contact details on The Electoral Commission website. Enter the school's postcode in the 'Your Local Area' panel to obtain the correct address for your local office: www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i- am-a/voter/your-election-information. 4 The Local Government and Elections (Wales) Bill is currently being considered by the Welsh Parliament. Should this be passed and become law 16/17 year olds in Wales will be able to vote in Local Government elections. If passed, the bill will become law in early 2021.

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