Power at 16?
Currently, the UK is on the edge of one of the biggest democratic shifts in the UK since the 1969 Representation of the People Act. The government is now pushing forward the Representation of the People Bill to lower the national voting age to 16. For many years the idea of ‘Votes at 16’ was just a talking point, but since Scotland and Wales implemented it for their local voting, it is now quickly becoming a reality for general elections in England. If and when this goes ahead, it will be a massive milestone for youth empowerment. However, expanding the franchise will not be a simple fix to the UK’s political problems, where if who gets to vote changes, we have to change how we prepare them for it.
There are a multitude of arguments in favour of lowering the voting age. At 16, society starts to treat you as an adult in many ways. 16 year olds can leave home, work full time, pay National Insurance and even join the armed forces. Therefore it seems unfair that a 16 year old can contribute to the economy and serve their country, but have no say in who governs the country, who ultimately decides where their taxes go and whether or not the country could go to war. Furthermore, there are many decisions being made in Westminster right now which will affect our generation far longer than the older generation making them.
However, there is a massive catch that the government is ignoring in terms of ‘Votes at 16, in terms of voter turnout. Throughout the UK, there is a notoriously low track record of young people showing up to vote. Some critics argue that the idea of ‘Votes at 16’ is a tactical move by some parties to sweep up younger, and more progressive voters. Yet if young people are already disengaged from the current political system (which could be down to minimal political education in schools or parties not having policies which enthuse/support younger people etc), simply lowering the voting age won’t necessarily mean that they will all suddenly care about politics. Whereas if a proportion of newly enfranchised teens choose to not vote on election day, it will lower the overall voter turnout figures, which consequently make elected governments seem less legitimate.
Ultimately, giving 16 year olds the right to vote can be seen as the right thing to do, but it cannot be just about ticking a box for political parties. For the ‘Votes at 16’ to work, it must be paired with thorough and accurate political education within schools. A lot of teenagers do want to engage with politics, but feel locked out by the confusing political turmoil and biased social media feeds where they want reliable information to help guide them. If the UK does want a stronger democracy, it shouldn't just be handing a 16 year old a ballot paper but rather giving them the tools and education to understand it fully.
By Amelia Scott
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