YOUNG people all over the Wee County are encouraged to ‘go to the polls’ and cast their vote in this year’s Scottish Young Parliament elections.

The candidates will continue their campaigns right up until the polls close on Friday, 13 March.

Five teenagers in the have been selected to contest the two Clackmannanshire and Dunblane seats this year.

Tanisha Cooper (15), a fourth year pupil at Alva Academy, is running her campaign on education and the promotion of stem cell research.

She is hoping to travel to Malawi to help develop a education in the country before using her experience to benefit her own school.

She said: “On my return from Malawi I will hold an assembly to inform the pupils about my experience which will hopefully make them release how lucky we are to have schools which are either on our door step or a short bus ride away.” Fellow Alva pupil Lewis McDermott (15) is striving to improve social opportunities for young people in the community.

The fifth year said: “During my term I will aspire to ensure more opportunities are made available for young people like myself to get involved in any type of youth focused group.” Lewis hopes to raise the profile of local uniformed organisations, while petitioning the local authority to develop more youth spaces.

Meanwhile, Lornshill pupil Robbie McIntosh (16) is setting his sights on re-election after he ran uncontested in the 2013 SYP elections.

He has promised to campaign for 16-year-olds to vote in all Scottish elections while looking at ways to help all young people into part-time work.

He said: “I have the experience, knowledge, connections and passion to make a difference in this area, and my work is only just beginning in this new term.” The youngest candidate at this year’s election is Lornshill second-year pupil Jamie Shanks.

He said: “I would like to stand as the SYP representative as I would like to stand up and voice the opinions of myself and every other young person out there, both locally and nationally.” Jamie is hoping the provide cheaper access to music in his community and school, while encouraging more young people to take part in volunteer activities.

The final name on the ballot paper is Lornshill’s Oliwia Zielonka who is aiming to promote the benefits of physical activities.

The fourth year pupil was also named the schools’ girls footballer player of the year and wants to see more of her fellow classmates take on sport on a more regular basis.

She said: “I believe I would represent the young people of Clackmannanshire well as I am an approachable young person who is committed to whatever task in hand.” Anyone wishing to vote in this year’s SYP elections needs to have a Young Scot National Entitlement Card (NEC) number.

Those without a Young Scot NEC can obtain a temporary registration number by speaking to an election officer, or by contacing the Young Scot InfoLine on 0808 801 0338 or emailing info@youngscot.org The candidates’ manifests can be seen in full at www.syp.org.uk/elections, while votes can be cast online at elections.youngscot.org