HAMPSHIRE Members of the UK Youth Parliament (MYPs) are calling for more young people to take part in the Make Your Mark ballot – the largest consultation of young people in the country.

The ballot runs until October 10, and is open to all young people aged 11-18.

Participants can select from 10 issues, choosing the one that matters most to them and that they think is most important to young people.

The issues cover a range of topics, including education, employment, health and politics. The five issues that receive the highest number of votes will be debated by the UK Youth Parliament in the House of Commons later this year. The debate, on November 14, will be broadcast live on BBC Parliament.

In addition to the online ballot, schools and youth centres can sign up to receive ballot papers. So far, 11 Hampshire schools have taken part, with 14,000 voting forms distributed to them.

Last year, the Make Your Mark ballot captured the opinions of more than 478,000 young people across the UK, making it the largest youth consultation of its kind.

This year MYPs are hoping to engage one million young people in the ballot, with a Hampshire target of 21,000.

Councillor Peter Edgar, Hampshire County Council’s executive member for education, said: “I’ve had the pleasure of meeting our young MPs on a number of occasions, and I’m delighted by the work they are doing.

“It is so important that young people have a voice in local politics, to discuss and to challenge the issues that matter most to them, and I hope to see plenty of 11 to 18-year-olds in Hampshire voting in the Make Your Mark ballot. I am sure our young MPs have what it takes to inspire more young people to get involved.”

The UK Youth Parliament is an initiative run by charity The British Youth Council, and has more than 600 MYPs.

There are four Hampshire MYPs, and Zoni Asif represents Basingstoke, Winchester and Eastleigh.