MORE than 36,000 first time voters in Hampshire are being urged to use their votes in the county's forthcoming elections.

Youngsters who turned 18 in Hampshire this year are being asked to go to the polls for the first time by the electoral commission.

Hampshire County Council is holding elections across 11 district councils. They include Eastleigh where 2,985 teenagers can vote for the first time, New Forest, where the figure is 3,850, Test Valley where the figure is 2,640, Winchester where the figure is 2,895. Southampton's Unitary Authority is also holding an election to the city council where the number of first time voters stands at 5,003. In the 2001 general election, polling organisation, Mori estimated that only 39 per cent of 18-24-year-olds voted with turnout in Local elections usually even lower.

Nicole Smith director of policy at the electoral commission said: "Recent months have seen thousands of young people take to the streets to make a stand on matters that affect them, so we know that they feel strongly about political and social issues.

"Local elections decide how things such as schools, hospitals and transport will be run - all of which affect young people. They have a real part to play in shaping their community."