About 1,500 Moray school pupils will take part in a mock independence referendum.
The project involving all nine of the area’s secondary schools, aims to encourage more young people to take an active interest in politics.
The mock poll will take place on June 18 – two months before the actual referendum.
It will mirror the real thing as much as possible, with the use of polling booths plus an official count event at Milne’s High School that evening as the ballot boxes arrive from the schools.
Debates will also be held in the lead-up to the vote so young people can debate the issues beforehand.
Moray Youth Council is working to help young people to register to vote for the referendum itself on September 18.
Emmie Main, who chairs the youth council, said: “Many young people in Moray are not sure which way to vote, the arguments for each side or how the voting process works.
“Our project is universal and will allow all senior pupils to take part.”
Moray Council’s head of schools and curriculum development, Laurence Findlay, said: “This is a very significant year for Scotland and for S5 and S6 students in our schools who will be able to vote in this year’s referendum.
“I hope the young people of Moray benefit as they prepare to cast their votes in September.”
Voters across Moray will also be going to the polls next Thursday for the European elections.
Seventy polling stations will be in operation across the region between 7am and 10pm.
Nine parties have put forward candidates. They are: Britain First, the British National Party, the Conservatives,
Labour, the Liberal Democrats, NO2EU, the Scottish Green Party, the Scottish National Party and UKIP.
The votes will be counted from 5pm on Sunday, May 25, at Elgin Academy. A declaration is expected at around 10pm.