Vote and win a Playstation

By Sean Coughlan
BBC News Online

Entering a prize draw?

Parents are being encouraged to vote in this week's elections with an offer that their children could win a Playstation.

Sefton Council is trying to boost the election turn-out with a competition being run for local school pupils.

If the pupils can show their parents have voted in the elections, they can enter a prize draw.

The competition has been attacked as "bribery" by a teachers' union - but the council says it is encouraging families to take an interest in the elections.

"The competition is a campaign to raise awareness and participation in elections and is about providing a valuable experience to children in explaining democracy and promoting active citizenship," says a council spokesman.

'Win a DVD'

And it says that offering three prizes worth up to £250 - a Playstation games console, DVD and a bike - was not a "bribe" but a practical way of catching children's attention.

Children are voters of the future and with a declining turn-out, we felt we had to stimulate their interest Sefton Council spokesman

"Children are voters of the future and with a declining turn-out, we felt we had to stimulate their interest," said a spokesman for the Merseyside council.

The election competition letters tell children: "We need your help. Adults have the right to vote but often they don't bother."

But Doug McAvoy, general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said he was "appalled" by this scheme - and he urged head teachers not to send out the letters about the competition.

'Bribery'

"Whilst participation in elections is to be encouraged, this should not be done through bribes to children," said Mr McAvoy.

The competition is being promoted through primary and secondary schools in Sefton - with letters being sent to schools for distribution to pupils.

To enter the prize draw, pupils' parents will have to have used their postal vote in this week's election - with the verification being a signature from a parent saying they have voted. There will be no questions about how votes were cast.

The council says that entries will be put into a draw and the first three names will collect the prizes. There will also be a prize for the three winning pupils' schools.

In the last general election, the Knowsley North and Sefton East constituency had a 53% turn-out - compared to a 70% turn-out in the 1997 general election.