News

Estonia launched country wide youth shadow elections

Estonian National Youth Council (Eesti Noorteühenduste Liit)
25th of February 2011
PRESS RELEASE

Estonia launched country wide youth shadow elections

Estonian National Youth Council (ENL) launched country wide shadow elections today on the internet for Parliament elections. All youngsters from the age of 14 to 17 have the possibility to vote electronically from today till 3d of March. Identification is connected to identity card, internet banking passwords and electronic school system.

In addition to the electronic voting simulation which allows the youth to choose the real candidates, many other events are taking place. In February about 50 youth elections debates have taken place and several simulation games that put young people to the role of decision makers and teach how decisions are made in politics. A student competition about electoral campaigns has taken place where young people analyze campaigns and also practice making their own political campaign.

The voting is possible on the internet (http://www.varivalimised.ee) as well as in all regions in the public e-voting points.

"This opportunity, which involves the whole country, is a good possibility for Estonian youth to make history. Shadow elections gives the youth who can not yet vote a voice and a feeling that saying your mind and being active is a good way to reach the decision makers, so they would consider the young people more while making politics," says ENL's shadow elections project manager Miss Mailis Ostra.

Shadow elections e-voting system guarantees the voters anonymity and during the simulation period voters can later also change the vote.

Estonia was also the first country in the world who fully adapted electronic voting as an alternative to the traditional voting and Estonians have been e-electing since 2005. Yesterday real electronic elections were opened and within one day there have been already approximately 30 000 internet electors in a country of 1,3 million people.

Shadow elections is politically independent civic project for the youth aged 14 till 20 years in order to motivate youth to participate in political issues more actively and to make youth voice more heard in the society. In the project frame youth debates, creative competition for students and simulation games take place. From 25th of February till 3d of March all 14-17 year old Estonian citizens can participate in electronic elections simulations and choose between the Parliament candidates.

The project is funded by EU Program Youth in Action, Open Estonia Foundation, Nation Foundation of Civic Society, Estonian Ministry of the Interior, Gambling Tax Fund. Project's media partner is Estonian National Broadcasting.

More information:
Meelika Jürisaar
Estonian National Youth Council
Public Relations Officer
GSM: +372 50 41 258
E-mail: meelika@enl.ee
www.varivalimised.ee
www.enl.ee