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Should the voting age be lowered to 16

[Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 72
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in General Discussion #1
"MPs have voted in favour of a proposal to lower the voting age in all UK elections from 18 to 16."

I'm all for it. What do you think?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-21178379
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Comments

  • Hugh JboobsHugh Jboobs Posts: 15,316
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    #2
    No I don't think it should.
  • CryolemonCryolemon Posts: 8,670
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    #3
    I wouldn't be against it.
  • spanglerokapispanglerokapi Posts: 523
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    #4
    Hell no, that's one sure fire way of ending up with Boris in number ten!
  • mackaramackara Posts: 4,063
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    #5
    A motion to reduce the voting age in N.I to 16 years old received 59 votes in favour and 29 against by MLAs in the Northern Ireland assembly back in Nov 2012
  • designer84designer84 Posts: 12,087
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    #6
    Going by what I thought about at 16 and the majority of kids I knew at the time, elections were the last things on our minds. Most boys my age didn't give a fig about MPs etc. I think to lower voting to an age where you are not always aware of what's going on and where you may be easily influenced is probably not a good idea. You don't really have much experience of life at 16 and you have not yet been released into the real world of bill paying, setting up home etc. I think 18 is fine and probably the youngest we should go. But that's just my thought on it
  • SnrDevSnrDev Posts: 6,094
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    #7
    No. Kids barely out of school who aren't able to marry, drink in pubs, smoke, view or appear in porn etc and have 6th Form views shouldn't be able to influence the country by voting.

    Conversely, we should revert to votes being granted only to the over-21s, and ideally only land-owning gentlemen or those with a satisfactory income, private, inherited or earnt.
  • tim59tim59 Posts: 47,188
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    #8
    I am not againt it would seem stange people who are still at school voting
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 22,736
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    #9
    They need to align everything. Be it lowered to 16 or everything increased to 18.
  • MoonyMoony Posts: 15,093
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    #10
    SnrDev wrote: »
    No. Kids barely out of school who aren't able to marry, drink in pubs, smoke, view or appear in porn etc and have 6th Form views shouldn't be able to influence the country by voting.

    Conversely, we should revert to votes being granted only to the over-21s, and ideally only land-owning gentlemen or those with a satisfactory income, private, inherited or earnt.

    16 year olds can marry - and crucially they can pay tax. The country shouldn't have it both ways - either make 16 year olds tax exempt - or give them a say on how their money is spent.
  • WellHiddenMarkWellHiddenMark Posts: 1,797
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    #11
    It's unlikely to make a scrap of difference to the turnout.

    The increasing infantilisation and mistrust of teenagers in other areas of society; drinking, smoking, education, popular culture, media and the fact that most won't be able to afford to get on the housing ladder until they're nearly 40 won't inspire more than a handful to vote.
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 29,701
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    #12
    No. .
  • Si_CreweSi_Crewe Posts: 40,202
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    #13
    Well, I guess if 16 year olds are old enough to work and old enough to pay tax they should have a right to vote too.

    I can understand how people might be worried that 16 year olds will be rather gullible and end up voting naively but, hey, the same probably applies to half the entire population anyway.
  • SnrDevSnrDev Posts: 6,094
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    #14
    5 year-olds can pay tax too. It's about income, not age.

    Next.
  • mackaramackara Posts: 4,063
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    #15
    I would think the majority of 16 year olds are more politically aware than we give them credit for, it would be nice to hear some fresh opinions from the younger generation instead of the some old boring he done/she done pass the buck we hear every time there is an election.
  • SnrDevSnrDev Posts: 6,094
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    #16
    mackara wrote: »
    I would think the majority of 16 year olds are more politically aware than we give them credit for, it would be nice to hear some fresh opinions from the younger generation instead of the some old boring he done/she done pass the buck we hear every time there is an election.
    And the sudden failure to comprehend at 18 is caused by...?
  • mackaramackara Posts: 4,063
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    #17
    SnrDev wrote: »
    And the sudden failure to comprehend at 18 is caused by...?
    being able to get into a pub:D
  • bart4858bart4858 Posts: 11,434
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    #18
    Moony wrote: »
    16 year olds can marry - and crucially they can pay tax. The country shouldn't have it both ways - either make 16 year olds tax exempt - or give them a say on how their money is spent.

    That is a very good idea. Perhaps I can be exempt from income tax too, since I can't vote either, and I'm over 18.

    Or maybe it isn't such a big deal since most 16-17-year-olds are at school and don't earn enough to pay tax. While even under-16s have to pay VAT but there's no suggestion they should have any say in the matter.
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 2,583
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    #19
    No. 16 years olds are children. Why on Earth would we allow children to play a part in determining who governs the country?
  • pickwickpickwick Posts: 25,739
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    #20
    ladymoanalot wrote: »
    They need to align everything. Be it lowered to 16 or everything increased to 18.
    Yeah, this is what I think. I'm not much bothered which, but it's ridiculous that you can join the army and marry and have kids two years before you can vote and drink.
  • DianaFireDianaFire Posts: 12,711
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    #21
    They're too busy voting for One Direction, surely?
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 1,835
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    #22
    WellHiddenMark wrote: »
    It's unlikely to make a scrap of difference to the turnout.

    Actually it will, it will lower the turnout (as a percentage) as there will be a larger electorate, but if very few 16 year olds vote it will have the effect of reducing the turnout percentage.
  • tim59tim59 Posts: 47,188
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    #23
    Freeman000 wrote: »
    No. 16 years olds are children. Why on Earth would we allow children to play a part in determining who governs the country?

    Why could they do any worse, then adults do
  • royllsroyceroyllsroyce Posts: 1,163
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    #24
    anyone should be able to vote so long as they have done a course in politics and economics
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 72
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    #25
    No-one is forced to vote in the UK and if they're not interested, they don't have to vote - same as the rest of us. But if they're interested and have an oppinion, it seems fair that they should be able too.
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 72
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    #26
    royllsroyce wrote: »
    anyone should be able to vote so long as they have done a course in politics and economics

    So we should take the vote away from anyone who hasn't been specifically trained in these areas? Why?
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