Young people from the British Overseas Territories vote for the topic they will debate in the House of Commons Chamber
10 December 2024
Over 2900 young people, aged 11-18, from across the UK Overseas Territories, have voted in the first ever Make Your Mark Ballot for the Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies during this year's UK Parliament Week. Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the House of Commons, said he was ‘pleased that so many young people from the British Overseas Territories had taken part in the “Make Your Mark” ballot’ - hailing the vote as ‘democracy in action’.
Choosing from ten topics, young people were asked to vote on which was the most important one to them. Topics included health and well-being to transport and crime and safety. Each school that took part chose their own way of managing the ballots with some opting for paperless voting and other using form times and assemblies to run their votes.
The winning topic will be the theme of the Special Segment at the 2025 Sitting of the UK Youth Parliament on Friday 28 February 2025. For the Overseas Territories, the winning topic, receiving 661 votes, 22% of all votes cast, was “Education and Learning: school/college and access to university and apprenticeships”.
The Special Segment during the UK Youth Parliament Sitting gives a young person from each of the UK Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies to represent young people from their territory and speak at the Despatch Box during the Sitting. 2025 will mark the 3rd opportunity for the Overseas Territories and the 2nd for the Crown Dependencies.