Should 16 year olds be entitled to vote?
I couldn't help notice the BBC News article published the other day, stating that a bill could soon be passed through parliament entitling 16 year olds to vote in Local, By and General Elections within the UK.
I am going to start this post firstly by saying that I am well and truly against 16 year olds having the vote...not because I am selfish...not because I am prejudice to those younger than me...but simply because I feel 16 year olds wouldn't know what they're voting for in the first place.
Both Labour and Liberal Democrat MP's feel 16 year olds should have the vote because not only are they "responsible and mature enough", but also because the age itself entitles you to so many obligations (ie: you can smoke, purchase lottery tickets, learn to drive [with a mobility allowance], leave home, e.t.c). After all, if you can do all that...why shouldn't you be given the extra privilege of voting?
Well, the answer is clear in my view...because 16 year olds do not understand the political (or economical) fundamentals that control our everyday lives. For starters, not many of us can say that we knew about rising council taxes or inflationary pressures within our economy at the age of 16. People at that age (in my opinion) are more concerned with their own matters such as GCSE exams rather than British politics...so when they are granted the opportunity to vote, how do they know who (or what) they are voting for? If you gave a 16 year old the opportunity to vote in the European referendum, how would they know which box to choose on the ballot paper? Can anyone honestly tell me that they would be knowledgeable enough about the European Monetary Union and Single Currency effects at this age? Of course not...because they are too inexperienced (after just leaving school) to do so.
Furthermore, most 16 year olds I know are not even interested in politics in the first place. There is the common assumption around Britain that politics is "boring", and politicians are a bunch of liars in parliament who do absolutely nothing for a living, so what is the point in giving youngsters the vote when they are not even interested in political legislation to begin with?
I understand however that there are a few 16 year olds out there who are deeply interested in politics, some of whom write their political thoughts on websites such as this...but we have to respect the fact that they are (rather unfortunately) a minority amongst youths today. The majority have no interest in politics whatsoever, and wouldn't even know what to vote for if they were handed a ballot paper in the first place.
So before Labour and Liberal MP's decide to enforce such legislation, i believe they should consider the points I have mentioned, otherwise our ballot boxes could soon be filled with voting slips, marked by those who have no idea what is beneficial for our Country.
Should the voting age be lowered to 16, or remain as it is for those 18 and over?
I am going to start this post firstly by saying that I am well and truly against 16 year olds having the vote...not because I am selfish...not because I am prejudice to those younger than me...but simply because I feel 16 year olds wouldn't know what they're voting for in the first place.
Both Labour and Liberal Democrat MP's feel 16 year olds should have the vote because not only are they "responsible and mature enough", but also because the age itself entitles you to so many obligations (ie: you can smoke, purchase lottery tickets, learn to drive [with a mobility allowance], leave home, e.t.c). After all, if you can do all that...why shouldn't you be given the extra privilege of voting?
Well, the answer is clear in my view...because 16 year olds do not understand the political (or economical) fundamentals that control our everyday lives. For starters, not many of us can say that we knew about rising council taxes or inflationary pressures within our economy at the age of 16. People at that age (in my opinion) are more concerned with their own matters such as GCSE exams rather than British politics...so when they are granted the opportunity to vote, how do they know who (or what) they are voting for? If you gave a 16 year old the opportunity to vote in the European referendum, how would they know which box to choose on the ballot paper? Can anyone honestly tell me that they would be knowledgeable enough about the European Monetary Union and Single Currency effects at this age? Of course not...because they are too inexperienced (after just leaving school) to do so.
Furthermore, most 16 year olds I know are not even interested in politics in the first place. There is the common assumption around Britain that politics is "boring", and politicians are a bunch of liars in parliament who do absolutely nothing for a living, so what is the point in giving youngsters the vote when they are not even interested in political legislation to begin with?
I understand however that there are a few 16 year olds out there who are deeply interested in politics, some of whom write their political thoughts on websites such as this...but we have to respect the fact that they are (rather unfortunately) a minority amongst youths today. The majority have no interest in politics whatsoever, and wouldn't even know what to vote for if they were handed a ballot paper in the first place.
So before Labour and Liberal MP's decide to enforce such legislation, i believe they should consider the points I have mentioned, otherwise our ballot boxes could soon be filled with voting slips, marked by those who have no idea what is beneficial for our Country.
Should the voting age be lowered to 16, or remain as it is for those 18 and over?
posted by James.R.Skinner at 9:34 pm
23 Comments:
Even if 16 year olds have no idea about politics...isn't it still their right to vote? I mean, not all adults who vote know what they're voting for either.
You should be able to vote once you legally become an adult at 18. I don't believe in "rights" but for those that do, such as Brian, why not 14 year olds? Why not 12 year olds? Why not babies?
i think you are being totally excentric when you say "votes for babies", they obviously wouldnt be able to vote at such a young age...but in my opinion, 16 year olds are mature and responsible enough to vote. If they are old enough to leave home and start their own lives, then why aren't they old enough to vote?
They're not old enough to vote Brian because in my opinion, they are not experienced enough to understand the basics of British politics. How can we allow someone with no idea of politics to be apart of our voting legislation?
How old should you be then to vote for Brian??
In his opinion...16. In my opinion...18.
So before Labour and Liberal MP's decide to enforce such legislation, i believe they should consider the points I have mentioned, otherwise our ballot boxes could soon be filled with voting slips, marked by those who have no idea what is beneficial for our Country.
Hmm... Indeed, yet didn't this county elect Labour three times consecutively? So doesn't that mean already the ballot boxes are full of ballot papers cast by those who have no idea of what is beneficial for our country? ;)
But overall, yes, I do agree with the belief that lowering the voting age to 16 is not the right idea. However I do believe it will happen.
If they are old enough to leave home and start their own lives, then why aren't they old enough to vote?
Are they really old enough to leave home and start their own lives though? Legally they are, and so they do it, but the reality is that they are not truly old enough.
And, they have no experience of life and are more interested in other things to even know who the main political parties are.
...which is my point exactly. Although i have to humourously agree with your statement suggesting that our ballot boxes are being filled with "mindless" votes, I do feel that 16 year olds are too inexperienced to vote. You're quite right to say that they are old enough to leave home (by law)...but it doesn't necessarily mean that they are experienced enough to leave home. Majority just do not have the right idea to start their own lives as individuals...and if this is the case...how do they have the right idea to sensibly vote?
A great number of people within the electorate don't know that much about policies or politics - it's not just 16 year olds (cretins such as korova below are proof of this fact.) However, Brian says, "in my opinion, 16 year olds are mature and responsible enough to vote. If they are old enough to leave home and start their own lives, then why aren't they old enough to vote?" The point is, how many actually leave home, get married, join the armed forces etc. The answer - not many.
"So what are you trying to say Chris...that all 16 year olds are useless to society and have no use whatsoever? Deary me, you are a misguided individual."
Read what I wrote, and try again. And login next time or you you so completely retarded that you cannot do such a simple thing?
Did it ever occur to you that I dont have a blogger account? And i still stand by my statement...why do you think that 16 year olds cant vote? Just because you were so "retarded" when you were 16, that doesn't mean that 16 year olds today are the same.
I dont think "retardedness" has anything to do with this debate. At the end of the day, voting involves responsible decisions to be made by responsible adults...in my opinion, 16 year olds do not understand the extent of that responsibility, and hence should wait until the age of 18 before they can vote.
In America, the voting age is 21 in some places, so what are the Liberals complaining about?!!!
Tk: The Republicans are disenfranchising as many voters as they can, for obvious reasons.
James: 18 is a 'minimum' voting age, the 'average' age of the first time general election voter is over 20, and some have to wait until they are 23! Reducing the minimum age to 16, will mean the average will be still over 18, and some will still have to wait until 21! What ever happened to the adage 'no taxation without representation'?
This has a dramatic effect on turnout, as the evidence shows..."In the 2001 election, for example, turnout among 27-year-olds was 49%, compared with 65% among 28-year-olds who had been old enough to vote in the 1992 election."
Surely any democrat should support something that encourages larger turnout.
To those who say 16 year olds are too immature. Can I ask what happens between 16 and 18 that turns these 18 year olds into acceptable voters?
Don't say, experience of work or living away from their parents, because the vast majority of 18 year olds are still waiting for their first full time job and have no experience of living away from parents.
Firstly, im not debating the issue of averages...the point im making is that im fully against 16 year olds having the vote, so knowing that 49% of 27 year olds voted in the last general election is completely irrelevent to this debate.
Secondly, im going to assume that you are in favour of 16 year olds having the vote. If thats the case, then why not let 14 year olds have the vote? After all, what happens between 14 and 16 that turns these 16 year olds into acceptable voters (as you say)?
Labour and the Lib Dems will do anything for votes 'eh?
Let's face it, if 50 cent became a politician he'd get voted into government if it was left down to 16 yr olds. It's enough of a popularity contest as it is...
Quite true. Voting would seem just a popularity contest to 16 year olds, so why give them the responsibility to vote?
The moment 16 year olds are given the vote, our political system will become a laughing stock of the entire world (well....even more of a laughing stock, just like our police force, our justice system, our NHS and our ridiculously high taxes).
You say 16 year olds have no idea on how to vote? All 7th, 8th, and 9th grade students in my district in the US are taught the ins and outs of the governement/politcal system in the US. That is roughly 1000 kids in my district alone, most other school districts in this part of the country teach the same things about governmen, over 200,000 kids. I, at 16 years of age, watch the news, read the newspapers, and am fairly intersted in politics
I am a member of the uk youth Parlaiment for Kent in the south east.i am 14 years old and I am the rep for law and society that covers votes @ 16
If 16 year olds can pay tax then shouldnt they have the vote to say where they want there money spent on?
Young People can be forced to join the armed forces.Why should 16 year olds risk there life without there opinion being heard.
The Labour Party want to introduce ID Cards for 16 year old but shouldnt 16 year olds be able to say if they want the id cards or not in britain?
To be honest there is so much at 16 that young people can do exept puting your own opinion across.
Sixteen year olds want the vote because they want Mp's to listern to them
Keep up the good work » » »
Firstly, I would like to point out that your views are firmly established in the centre-right and that you should broaden your horizons. I merely think that your misguided views are subject to the fact that you think the younger generation will not vote for you. Maybe this is a good thing, but you cannot stem the flow of voters, as in two years time they will be voting happily.
As 15 year old interested in politics and our country as a whole, I find myself reading the Independent most weekends and watching the news almost every evening. Down in south America, Nicaragua lowered the voting age to 16 from 21 in 1984, and has had little problems since. More locally for us britons, the Isle of Man, which as I’m sure you are aware is crown dependant, brought in legislation to lower the age of it’s voters to 16. The house of keys passed the bill with 83% of it’s members in favour: a clear sign of a good idea. We in England should follow their example, as in 1881 The Isle of Man was the first country in the world to introduce votes for women. Since this time it has become widespread and common place, and there are few who deny the wisdom of this.
Studies show voting is a habit that has to start early. If people don't start out as voters, they're less likely to ever vote. Some researchers fear that as this generation of non-voters ages, they will stay that way, causing a dangerous dive in voter turnout as baby boomers and older generations die out. In the 2000 election, senior citizens voted at about twice the rate of 18- to 24-year-olds.
You say that 16 year olds do not have sufficient education to vote. Many 18 year olds who can vote will have left school at the age of 16; hence many 16 year olds will have knowledge as adequate as they do for casting their votes. At that age most teenagers can work, pay taxes and be charged as adults for crimes - even be sentenced to death (In America). In the UK they can have sex, and get married with parental consent. So why prevent them from casting their vote?
Consequently, I would hope that in a year’s time I, and my other classmates, will have the right to vote, wherever we may choose to cast it.
By the time you reach 16 you will have developed almost fully intelectually. You obviously don't think they will make the "right" decision, i.e vote for whatever far-right idiots you support. I'm a 15 year old from Ireland and I can name the political parties of Britain... so up yours fascist.
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