Yes I do
If you are old enough to be married with children then you are old enough to have a say in how the city and country are run

Hi Jenif,

I strongly believe that the voting age should be lowered to 16, because it would force politicians from all political parties to listen and properly engage with young people and develop detailed policies that are designed to benefit younger people, as like all politicians they want to make sure that they get your vote.

Another reason would be, that at the age of 16 a young person can choose to finish their education, leave home, join the armed forces, have sex, and start a family. In fact, if a young person is earning enough money, they can even pay tax – and yet they do not have the right to vote which I think is just plain crazy.

To be honest I know some 16 year olds who know far more about politics than what their parents do, the more young people we have engaged in politics can only be a good thing for the whole of society. What do you believe on this issue?

I don’t see why not. Would you fancy it to be lower? Seriously though, if you’re old enough to marry, join the army or even have “relations”, then why not vote?

Young people have some experience at making important life decisions GCSEs, further education etc. I think we have a lot to learn from young people – they have fresh, uncynical ideas!
It may not be popular but I personally think that the age limit should remain the same. Whilst some young people mature earlier I think 18 is the right age, an age of independence for many, going to university, starting work etc and an age where people start to take responsibility for themselves and their future.
I think it’s more important to get young people’s ideas heard in local government & parliament by making it easier for them to gain access to those who make decisions and so influence change.

No. Obviously young people are more tuned in to politics than they were in previous times, and they have very valid opinions, but voting is a very serious issue and needs more experience of life than one might in general expect at 16.

I have travelled far more than most people and have seen a wide variety of human conditions, but I am still learning something new every day.

18 seems to me a reasonable compromise at present, but who knows how things will be for future generations?

If you are old enough to marry, join the army, have children and leave home then it is strange that you are not old enough to have a say in who your Councillor is. It did seem strange to me at 16 that I could join a political party, campaign in elections and take part in the selection of candidates, but not vote in the election itself. In 2008 a supporter of our party who attended the election count was 17. In effect he was able to be responsible for ensuring the votes were counted fairly, but could not cast one himself!

Yet those between 18-25 who already have the vote in many cases do not use it. In local elections the turnout in places like Warwick University Campus is so low that it regularly goes below 5-10%. The recent General Election saw a slightly higher turnout, mostly due to the close battle between the political parties, but even then it was lower than what would have been seen fifty years ago. It is worth comparing how issues affecting young people are dealt with to those involving the over 60’s who are much more likely to vote. Your vote is your voice and if not used others decide what happens.