On 15 October 2012, it was announced by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), that for the first time in the contest's history a new "Kids' Jury" was being introduced into the voting system. The jury would consist of members aged between 10 and 15, and representing each of the participating countries competing in a contest. A spokesperson from the jury would then announce the points 1–8, 10 and the maximum 12 as decided upon by the jury members.[1]
Sietse Bakker who was the Junior Eurovision Executive Supervisor at the time, in conjunction with members of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), KidsRights Foundation, and the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2012 host broadcaster Algemene Vereniging Radio Omroep (AVRO), held a press conference on 30 November 2012, in which further details were released in regards to the newly implemented "Kids' Jury". The spokesperson from the jury was the first to reveal the votes during the interval act of the live show. This gave a new dimension to the voting procedure, since the contest first began in 2003.[2]
In 2016, each country was represented by an adult jury and a kids jury. These results were combined to form the scores from each country.
Spokespersons
The table below lists each of the spokespersons who announced the Kids' Jury points at each annual contest.
1.^ Although the venue itself is located in Marsa, Malta, the Junior Eurovision Executive Supervisor, Vladislav Yakovlev stated on 18 December 2013 that there would be "no host city - but a host island".[7]
^Roxburgh, Gordon (30 November 2012). "Kids jury to vote first reveals EBU". junioreurovision.tv. European Broadcasting Union. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
^Fisher, Luke (18 December 2013). "Malta to host Junior Eurovision 2014". junioreurovision.tv. European Broadcasting Union. Retrieved 6 July 2014. Junior Eurovision 2014 will be unique in that there will not be a designated 'host city' for the event. Instead, it has been decided that the entire island of Malta will the host of Junior Eurovision 2014!