This week, young people will have an opportunity to experience the voting process. As young individuals, we will be able to take part in it in our future lives - so why not get ready now? With two votes next week, both provided by the British Youth Council (BYC), young people can make their voices heard. One election is for the representative, the Member of Youth Parliament (MYP), who will represent young people in the Darlington area. The other is the "Make Your Mark" campaign, aiming to identify the most important issues for young people.

Let's focus on "Make Your Mark." This vote allows young people (aged 11-18), to choose from a list of issues and select the one most important to them. Since this is done on a national scale and backed by Parliament, it gives Parliament an idea of the issues that matter most to young people, providing insight into the thoughts of the younger generation – the future!

Locally, Darlington Borough Council (DBC), in collaboration with the British Youth Council (BYC) and the Department for Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS), is overseeing this initiative. Evie Chambers, the Participation Officer at DBC, coordinates the council's efforts. She has told us, "Make Your Mark is a fantastic way for young people to express what is important to them. It is vital that we listen to their voices and hear about the changes they want to see in Darlington. The consultation will not only help us identify key issues nationally but also understand locally important topics for our young people and how we can incorporate them into our work to better support them."

As voting takes place throughout the entire country, young people will take an interest and participate in the British Political System. It is hoped that this will promote higher voting turnouts in the future and enhance the effectiveness of our British democratic process. As a young person myself, I would like to say one thing to fellow young people – VOTE!