The Department of Education has produced four leaflets to help first-time voters in next week's local authority election.

It's the first one since Tynwald lowered the voting age to 16 in 2006.

The leaflets explain how the local authority system works and how Douglas Town Council and town, district, village and parish boards of commissioners differ from each other.

They also give an insight into the the workings of local authorities and the arguments for and against the present 24 body structure.

Education Minister Anne Craine (pictured) says she's very keen for the Island's young people to learn about our system of government, describing it as both part of their heritage and the heart of our democracy.