Voting age to be lowered to 16yo

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asl
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To be honest, I don't think this is a bad idea... Most 'kids' these days are far more politically-aware than most of my compatriots were when we were all that age. Sure, there were some of us - but the majority had no interest and didn't see the connection between life and politics.
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Shade
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I think this will backfire on Labour big time. The youth are as unhappy with the state of the country as the rest of us.
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ctfc-fan
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Not convinced by this. Starmer is banking on the young wetties to vote for them to keep them in as he knows without them he’ll be out on his ear, as he should be.
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asl
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Agreed with you both that it won't benefit Labour. But the point of principle of lowering the voting age is still the right thing to do, imho.
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Ihearye
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with all due respect to our friends in Boston - No representation without taxation
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Shade
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asl wrote: ↑17 Jul 2025, 12:30 Agreed with you both that it won't benefit Labour. But the point of principle of lowering the voting age is still the right thing to do, imho.
I don't see how you can have a say on who runs the country if you can't legally buy alcohol. Yeah, we trust you to choose who runs the country, but we don't trust you to have a drink. Same goes for buying fags, a scratchcard, getting a tattoo, driving a car, watching Pulp Fiction, playing Grand Theft Auto, buying knives or fireworks, joining the Army, getting a credit card - some won't be allowed to work full-time hours yet and most have no idea what the real world is like and what they're really voting for, and none of them can be on a jury or even be tried as an adult. Legally, 16 year olds are children, so how can they be allowed to vote?!

I can't imagine many would even bother to vote, except those that are told who to vote for by their parents or community groups...definitely nothing that can be taken advantage of, there.
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asl
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I'd trust an average 16yo to make an informed decision over some adults I've met, actually... As for those being coerced to vote one way or the other, isn't that a problem already? You mention 'community groups', there, and I'm extrapolating your meaning - but would women not fall under the same pressure? At 16, you can join the army, btw. They can even work full time (e.g. in apprenticeships ) and are taxed and pay NI in exactly the same way as adults. As for the rest, it may be true - but I bet there's not many 16yo's who haven't seen an 18-rated movie or played an 18-rated game or drunk alcohol (which they are allowed to do with a meal and adult supervision).

There are some adults who shouldn't be trusted with the responsibility of voting because they are racist, misogynistic, violent, homophobic or simply as thick as two short planks - but we can't differentiate them.
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Shade
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The best argument against it that I've heard actually came from Farage in ITV News - at 16 you can't stand for election, so you shouldn't be able to vote either.

The chances are the votes of 16 and 17 year olds who do choose to vote won't make any difference anyway. It just seems like such a desperate move from a desperate government grasping for any support it can find. Surprised they're not going for 14 year olds. To vote, that is. For a change.
Last edited by Shade on 17 Jul 2025, 18:57, edited 1 time in total.
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ctfc-fan
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asl wrote:At 16, you can join the army, btw.
Only to train, not see active combat.
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asl
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ctfc-fan wrote: ↑17 Jul 2025, 18:57 Only to train, not see active combat.
[Shrug] I wouldn't want a 16yo apprentice electrician rewiring my house, neither - but that's not the point.
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Ihearye
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asl wrote: ↑17 Jul 2025, 18:07 I'd trust an average 16yo to make an informed decision over some adults I've met, actually... As for those being coerced to vote one way or the other, isn't that a problem already? You mention 'community groups', there, and I'm extrapolating your meaning - but would women not fall under the same pressure? At 16, you can join the army, btw. They can even work full time (e.g. in apprenticeships ) and are taxed and pay NI in exactly the same way as adults. As for the rest, it may be true - but I bet there's not many 16yo's who haven't seen an 18-rated movie or played an 18-rated game or drunk alcohol (which they are allowed to do with a meal and adult supervision).

There are some adults who shouldn't be trusted with the responsibility of voting because they are racist, misogynistic, violent, homophobic or simply as thick as two short planks - but we can't differentiate them.
Well we have already called into question the social spheres you move in :)
Yes a 16 yr old can leave school to take up an apprenticeship or other training. However the figures of how may remain in full time education until 18, is pretty steady in the mid 80%. So I guess I would not have a problem with those paying taxes having a vote, but anyone who isn't should not be.
As for alcohol, yes their parents can buy them a beer of a cider with a meal, I would argue being able to do something under parental supervision is not a good argument for giving someone the vote.
I can imagine Reform, while taking the moral high ground and saying they are against this, are actually quite happy given how they poll among young people.
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