Do you think the voting age should be lowered to 16?

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Political parties are putting together their manifestos for May’s general election.

One key issue that the parties seem to be including is their view on lowering the voting age to 16 in all future UK general and local elections.

Are 16 year olds mature enough to have their say in how the country is run?  Would it be beneficial in the long run to engage 16 year olds in political issues so they take more of an interest and responsibility for how the country functions?  Since they are old enough to work, should they be able to vote? Many 18-24 don’t currently vote so would 16 year olds want to vote?

What are your views?

Do you think the voting age should be lowered to 16 in UK Elections?

783 people have already voted, what's your opinion? Yes No

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SovereignInventory
15th Apr 2015
0
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To play 'devil's advocate' and look at things slightly differently, should there be a Maximum age as well? A lot of 'older' people do not have a grasp on modern living and have a vested interest in what the political parties will do for them and a lot of self interest. I know it may be contentious but as the onset of us all living longer, increasing levels of dementia, no care system, will the majority of voters come from the senior end of the population? Will this be truly representative of the entire population or will any election in the future rely on the majority of voters belonging to people in the autumn/winter of their lives?
Caprice
6th Mar 2015
1
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No. Sixteen year olds, generally, don't have enough life experience to have developed truly independent thought.
nagonthenet
2nd Mar 2015
1
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18 is too young for many. There should be a standardisation of ages - eg. a child can marry at 16, drive at 17, vote at 18. Make everything 18
andbrown01
28th Feb 2015
1
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Westminster
18th Feb 2015
2
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When I was young, some youngsters left school at 15, so by the age of 16 they had a year's work experience and had pay NINS, and sometimes ITAX as well.

Today's 16 year olds are generally quite juvenile compared to the fifties, and I doubt that their contribution would be useful to the democratic process, nonetheless it could be worthwhile trying the idea out during Local Elections.
andbrown01
16th Feb 2015
5
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no I think it should be raised
to twenty one
countrylass
14th Feb 2015
4
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As most 16 year olds are still in full time education, therefore not working/paying income tax - NO, they shouldn't have the vote. In the 19th Century it was - no taxation without representation, so it stands the other way round too. I also don't think prisoners or non British subjects should be allowed to either.
Frank60zz
11th Feb 2015
4
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Keep it at 18, give them a chance to establish the facts independently for themselves. Many - be no means all - had been indoctrinated by their teachers with little chance or indeed encouragement to debate the issues.

My daughter was amazed how even history teachers insisted that certain things from recent history were true, which in fact were false. It was obvious that they did not know their subject and were loath to admit their errors. Just one example.
Scotbox
11th Feb 2015
2
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The 16-18s were very well informed in the Indy ref.
buzzypayne
11th Feb 2015
2
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If we really want to make a difference and get more people to vote we should introduce online voting!!
Archiebald
11th Feb 2015
4
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Great idea and it would make it a lot easier...only issue is fraud..how would authorities make sure it was right person who voted ?
Motherof05
10th Feb 2015
2
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Yes - I think they should get the vote. A lot of the comments here are very negative - underestimating the capacity of our 16 year olds to understand and be responsible to the world around them. Shame on you! At this point in their lives they are probably making some of the biggest decisions they will ever make - decisions that will impact on the rest of their lives. And ... as stated before they are allowed to marry - to have children - to work. From this point they are making their own life decisions. So to say they can not have a say in what happens politicoly is just heavy handed and un democratic. I say catch them early ...........
Wilf
10th Feb 2015
1
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Good points here as I know my kids when they were 16 -many moons ago- were much more switched on than I ever was at that age. I do like to remind them they have had the benefit of travel, technology, TV etc. I agree 16 year olds should vote. they need to learn about the world and this is a key principle-voting in a democracy
Motherof05
11th Feb 2015
2
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Thank you Wilf - I have 5 children - my youngest who are twins will be 16 this year and they, as are their older brothers and sister are, very switched on to what is going on in the world, and are itching to make their first mark on it. All the older ones have all voted as soon as they were able. We are a very switched on family. I don't really believe its up to politicians to make it interesting for our young people it is their families who should do this. If the home environment is silent or negative - ie can't be bothered about politics - what hope do we have of our young people taking an interest?!!!
Archiebald
11th Feb 2015
2
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Totally agree with you
abigail76
10th Feb 2015
3
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With respect at sixteen the majority do not take interest in politics and when asked could,nt care less politicians know this and will give them what they want to hear to gain votes.
Lennoxton
10th Feb 2015
3
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I believe it should stay at the age of 18 as that is the age when our lads and lassies can go and serve our country anywhere over the world and they are putting their own lives at risk so that we can stay safe in our cou try.
Lunny
10th Feb 2015
2
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No I don't think 16 year olds should vote, they have no life experience, some are very immature. I don't think 18 is old enough in some, again because of their lack of maturity
Gughskipper
10th Feb 2015
-4
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I think 18 is to young, 20 would be better.
samhall
10th Feb 2015
2
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No . 16 year old's have no experience of running a household, bringing up Children, paying taxes and life in general. The School age has risen to 18 at least. I certainly would have only had my parents influence at that age. You only have to watch the behaviour of immature teenagers when they come out of School and board a bus many of them have no respect for anyone around them.
naindragon
10th Feb 2015
4
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You can leave home, work, have a baby & marry at 16. Not being able to vote is just inconsistent. We tell our children they can contribute to the economy but that they have no say in what our country's economy does. We call them young adults and treat them like they don't matter when choosing who makes the big decisions. Enable them to feel part of the society we want them to be part of, let them vote.
ronnieboy
10th Feb 2015
4
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think a lot of 16 yr old's are more mature than we think, we live in a different world and times now,the future is there's, let them have a say,let's face it, they can't do any worse than us.
nana Jo
10th Feb 2015
7
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I started work at 16 and paid tax and remember feeling frustrated and joined a campaign to lower the voting age 'taxation without representation' . The world has changed however with my own children working part time from 16 but not full time tax payers until their early 20s until they left uni. Certainly they had a viewpoint and should be able to vote before they lose that aspirational view on how the world should look. With a growing ageing population, including the youthful view this would balance the needs of our whole community. We have had a lifetime to put the world right, considering our failure perhaps we should give the future adults their chance.
JohnMartin
9th Feb 2015
0
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No I think it should stay at 18. 18 is the age when you officially are viewed as an adult. 16 year olds, especially boys are very immature from my experience. It would be pointless!
Munsterlander
7th Feb 2015
-1
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Hi,
I could not remember which day of the week it was when I was 16,let alone vote.
In saying that I still can't.
Archiebald
7th Feb 2015
8
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Yes as I think most 16 year olds are quite switched on and we need to get them engaged in politics. At this type of age many are at their most vocal and have new ideas and views. We should encourage them!
Motherof05
11th Feb 2015
3
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I agree - you know what they say - get yourself a teenager while they still know everything!

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