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Scottish 16 and 17 year olds can vote while their peers across the border are still disenfranchised.

What's the issue?

The Scottish independence referendum set a precedent that 16 and 17 year olds should have their say on constitutional issues. Their record voting in Scottish Parliamentary and local elections proved they were more than capable.

Yet we denied many 16 and 17 year olds who voted for their local MSP a voice in electing their local MP. They and their peers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland were then denied a say in the EU referendum.

Why 16 and 17?

There is no silver bullet for improving participation in politics and no singular cause. But, the way people come into contact with politics in their formative years is crucially important for the future of our democracy.

When they can vote, 16 and 17 year olds have higher rates of turnout than 18 to 24 year-olds - with 75% voting and 97% saying they would vote in future elections. They accessed more information from a wider variety of sources than any other age group.

If you vote, you are more likely to vote in future. So as 18 year olds who don't vote become 50 year olds who don't vote, 16 and 17 year olds who do vote will continue to vote as they age.

Extending the right to vote would allow a seamless transition from learning about voting to putting it into practice.

We have already potentially lost one generation. We cannot deny the first generation of voters who have studied our democracy the right to use this knowledge in a General Election. That's a missed opportunity.

Who supports extending the right to vote 16?

The Electoral Reform Society is a founding member of the Votes at 16 coalition. The SNP, Labour, Liberal Democrats and the Greens all support votes at 16. As does the leader of the Scottish Conservatives, Ruth Davidson who says she is a "fully paid-up member of the 'votes at 16' club".

Where can 16 year olds vote?

The Scottish Parliament extended the right to vote in elections to the Scottish parliament and councils. The National Assembly for Wales plans to extend the vote as well. Lack of movement in England is another wedge driven between the nations of the United Kingdom.

16 and 17 year olds in the Isle of Man, Jersey, Guernsey, Brazil and Austria already have the vote. They can also vote in some elections in Germany, Malta and Norway.

16- and 17-year-olds in Scotland can vote, so why can't they vote in England, Wales and Northern Ireland too?

Following the unanimous decision of the Scottish Parliament to lower the voting age in Scotland to 16, it's time that England, Wales and Northern Ireland caught up.

More information about Votes at 16

Votes at 16 Private Members Bill 3rd November 2017

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Skip to content Scottish 16 and 17 year olds can vote while their peers across the border are still disenfranchised. The Scottish independence referendum set a precedent that 16 and 17 year olds should have their say on constitutional issues. Their record voting in Scottish Parliamentary and local elections proved they were more than capable.

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Nine Good Reasons for Extending Voting Rights to 16 and 17 year olds | Vote at 16 - A New Age in Voting

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Since the introduction of vote at 16 in Scotland, youth interest in democracy and politics has increased. In a presentation to an NYCI seminar in 2016, a representative from the Scottish Youth Parliament stated that more young people are involved in political discussions, more engaged locally and more going on to study politics at third level.

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(Image: Lynne Cameron/PA Wire)

After a massive youth turnout for the Scottish Referendum , where the voting age was 16, it makes sense for Labour to propose a lower voting age and allow 16 and 17 year olds to cast their ballot along with their older peers.

It's been a long time in the coming - that extra couple of years could make all the difference in moulding someone who will be politically disengaged, to someone who will be a voter for life.

So why should Labour open up their demographic to the younger generation?

1. By the age of 16, you are nearly an autonomous adult, not a child

By most people's 16th birthday, they will either be in their final year of secondary school, or first year of college. This means that major decisions about education and which path you choose to go down to lead you into the adult world of careers and jobs will already have been taken. I've said it before and I will say it again: Why should those making decisions about their own future be unable to cast their vote about the future of the country?

2. Young people are far more integrated with current affairs

Frankly, it's an unavoidable point that even the 16-year-old who claims not to know or care about the political system will still have some grounding in current affairs. It's literally impossible not to. Anyone who has Facebook or Twitter is consistently fed news and current affairs, and it's undeniable that it's inescapable. Whether you like it or not, young people today are far more up to date on anything that happens, whether it's celebrity or music news, current affairs or comment pieces. If we could transfer this general modern integration with everything social media related towards direct political engagement, we would end up with a generation genuinely interested in shaping the future.

3. Raise the profile of politics in schools

The level of political education at a secondary school level is genuinely non existent. Oh yeah, "citizenship" lessons are meant to inform young people about the basic political system, but in my experience these often end up being led by over worked teachers who cave and end up shoving the lesson plans off in favour of "revision". This means unless you are actively interested in politics, at school you are unlikely ever to learn anything beyond where the prime minister lives. Maybe if 16-year-olds can vote, schools will better educate their students about the responsibility and privilege that voting brings. If students are actively asking about what it means to have the vote at 16, the education system is forced to get some kind of proper political education in place.

4. A definite increase to the youth voting demographic

At the moment the younger end of the voting spectrum tends to be undervalued by politicians. Lowering the voting age means a whole wealth of young people could register to vote. The more young people registered, the more the parties have to actually wake up and listen to the needs and demands of young people. If all the 16 and 17 year olds in the UK registered to vote, think about how much the parties would want to harness that amount of power...resulting in more policies geared towards our generation.

5. If you involve young people in politics, they will be interested

Take the Scottish Referendum - teenagers in school uniforms queuing up outside ballot boxes. There was a record turnout for voters for the Indy ref , and this was mirrored in 16-24 year olds. And some say young people are disengaged with politics. If you give young people the responsibility to have a vote, they will be far more inclined to use it.

6. Young people are the future of the UK

At 16, you are starting to consider issues like whether you want to go to university, if you want a full time job, potential housing in the future... Yet, in the past, 16-year-olds have had zero say in any of this. Imagine being a 16 or 17 year old at the last election, wanting to cast your vote over tuition fees but being unable to. Then seeing the Lib Dems catastrophically break their promises, with repercussions that will affect you directly if you go into higher education. And here you are now, saddled with debt.

16-year-olds are not children, they are taking steps into adult life. You can work at 16, you can theoretically get taxed at 16 - therefore you should be considered old enough to cast your ballot towards the future of the country, on issues that directly affect you.

The Labour proposals should hopefully be a step in the right direction on our voices getting heard.

The young are accused of not caring: until now we've never been given the chance to care.

This vow will give young people an incentive to stand up and cast their ballot - knowing they are an equal and important part of society.

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6 reasons giving 16-year-olds the vote is the right thing to do

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After a massive youth turnout for the Scottish Referendum , where the voting age was 16, it makes sense for Labour to propose a lower voting age and allow 16 and 17 year olds to cast their ballot along with their older peers.

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iTunes is the world's best way to play - and add to - your collection of music, films, TV programmes, apps, audiobooks and more. All on your Mac or PC.

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Steve
I agree if you are old enough to buy fags u should be allowed to vote

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16 year olds should be allowed to vote - YouTube

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Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

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16 year old's should be educated in politics from an early age.