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The polls are open in the third Welsh Youth Parliament Elections. But what is the Welsh Youth Parliament and how does it work?

Polls opened on November 4 and will close on November 21.

Across Wales, a total of 453 candidates, all aged between 11 and 18-years-old, have put their names forward for election.

Each of the 40 Senedd constituencies in Wales will elect one Youth Parliament Member, with a further 20 Youth Parliament Members elected by partner organisations to ensure a diverse representation.

The results of the Youth Parliament Election will be announced in the first week of December, with the first meeting set to be held at the Senedd in the New Year.

The last Welsh Youth Parliament election was held in 2021. It saw Harriet Wright-Nicholas, then 15, elected to represent Caerphilly, while Maddie Mai Malpas, who was also 15 at the time, was voted in to represent Iswlyn.

Andrew Millar, also 15 at the time of the last election, was voted in to serve the Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney constituency.

Who is standing this year?

Caerphilly

• Amelia Rose Joan Thomas
• Bryn Malarczyk
• Danielle Michael Ajibua
• Efa Davies
• Emily Pettican
• Eva Hurley-Williams
• George Sheppard
• Harvey Hobbs
• Ioan Carpenter
• Maisie Powell
• Meghan Johnson
• Mili Lewis
• Noa Bennett
• Reggie J Dovener
• Sophie Vincent
• Tom Buckley

Islwyn

• Ben Rhys Brown
• Elizabeth Bartlett
• Iestyn John Davies
• Megan Scarlet McDonald
• Oliver Pask
• Roean Jay Porter
• Ruby Elizabeth Gregg
• Sirius Dee-Squire

Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney

• Alona Mary Anil
• Amber Elin Perrott
• Charlotte Williams
• Marshall Pryce
• Noah Davies
• Pearl Osemudiamhen Blossom Itamah-Ekikhalo
• Tavia Giles

“We need to make our voices heard”

Fourteen-year-old Reggie Dovener, from Graig y Rhacca, is one of 16 candidates standing in the Caerphilly constituency. For him, this election, and the Welsh Youth Parliament as a whole, represents the chance to ensure young people’s voices are heard.

The Bedwas High School pupil told Caerphilly Observer: “It’s a niche subject, very few young people that I know seem interested.

“But it’s a very important subject because whether we like it or not, we’re all going to be leaders at some point.”

Reggie, whose keen interest in politics began as a ten-year-old during the Covid-19 lockdown, said he worries young people’s thoughts are often “an afterthought” and continued: “We need to make our voice heard. Let’s face it, not all of us are going to go running to their councillors whenever they have a problem like I do.”