Young voters register in record numbers ahead of council polls

More than 180,000 people registered to vote in the last month, the highest figure for a council election in a decade.

Officials say first-time voters aged 18 to 25 made up more than half of the new names on the roll. Many signed up at pop-up centres set up near campuses and markets.

"We kept the centres open late and took them to where young people already are," said a registration officer. "The queues told us the rest."

Youth groups ran reminders on social media and in group chats, sharing the nearest centre and what documents to bring.

Registration closes on Friday. Officials urge anyone who has moved since the last election to check that their polling unit is correct.