Lowering the Voting Age - LGIU Page 1 of 4

Lowering the voting age - LGIU Page 1 of 4

LGIU Local Government Information Unit

Independent Intelligent Information Lowering the voting age (LGiU)

19/11/2008 Author: Tracy Gardiner Reference No: PB 2015/08L This covers: England Overview

The Youth Citizenship Commission, an independent commission set up by the government, has published a consultation paper seeking views on lowering the voting age in the UK.

The LGiU has for many years supported lowering the voting age to 16. We recently campaigned successfully with affiliates to seek a reduction to the age of candidacy to 18, which was achieved in 2005. We believe that encouraging young people to know about and get involved in voting is one way to strengthen and promote democracy. We would urge affiliates to consider this consultation, including through local youth parliaments and young peoples forums and to reply to the Commission.

Responses to the consultation should be sent to the Youth Citizenship Commission by 20 January 2009. Briefing in full

The government in its Governance of Britain Green Paper indicated its intention to look at issues around engaging young people as citizens, including looking at lowering the voting age.

A number of recent reports have recommended reducing the voting age to 16. These include the Councillors Commission (2007) and the Power Enquiry (2006). Several private members bills have sought to introduce legislation to lower the voting age in parliament. These have been unsuccessful. The Electoral Commission recommended retaining the voting age when it last undertook a consultation in 2003 and undertook to conduct further research on the social and political awareness of young people with a view to carrying out another consultation on the minimum voting age within a period of five to seven years. In 2003 the Electoral Commission reported that if certain things changed enough in the next few years lowering the voting age could become much more realistic. The main issue, in their opinion, was whether citizenship teaching in schools greatly improved during that time.

During previous consultations the views of young people seemed to be very mixed with many young people feeling ready to be given the right to vote, but just as many not wanting the voting age to be lowered.

Voting age - international comparisons

In the majority of countries, the voting age is 18. There are however some variations within countries, so that for example people may be able to vote in local elections at a younger

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age than for national elections. In 2006, the Isle of Man lowered its voting age to 16. The Channel Island of Jersey lowered its voting age to 16 in 2007, and in the same year, Austria became the first country in the European Union to adopt a voting age of 16. The most common approach is for the voting age to be the same as the candidacy age.

Engagement

It is estimated that just 37% of 18 -25 year olds voted in the 2005 election. Levels of turnout in all elections have been a cause of concern since the 1997 general election across all age groups. Reasons for low turnout are many and complex and include: not knowing enough about politics; thinking that it makes no difference who wins; the view that politics is irrelevant and the view that an individual vote will not make a difference.

Although turnout amongst young people is low, research shows that young people are involved in politics and political campaigns. They are active in informal politics such as campaigns, protests and boycotts.

In 2002, citizenship education was introduced as a compulsory subject in all schools in England. There are different approaches to citizenship education in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The main arguments for lowering the voting age are:

z At an age when young people are regarded as old enough to join the armed forces, leave school, get married and pay taxes, then the right to vote should follow z It is a good way of recognising young people's involvement and what they can do z It is a good way of encouraging younger people to vote and to get into the habit of voting to prevent further future decline in turnout

The main argument against lowering the voting age is:

z 16 year olds would not be mature enough and that they would not have a sophisticated enough interest in politics

National and political party views

The voting age is set by parliament for the UK and is not a devolved matter, however all the devolved national bodies have considered lowering the voting age. In Scotland the Scottish Parliament produced a report following its renewing local democracy enquiry which backed proposals for lowering the voting age to 16. In Wales the Welsh Assembly has supported motions to lower the voting age. In Northern Ireland, the Human Rights Commission suggested a voting age of 17. Many of the political parties in the UK have policies on the voting age: the Labour Party's National Policy Forum, the Liberal Democrats and the Green Party support lowering the voting age. The SNP and Plaid Cymru support votes at 16 while in Northern Ireland when the last consultation took place the main parties were divided over lowering the voting age.

Options

One consideration would be to seek views on whether the voting age should be retained for general elections, but lowered in local elections. This would include a reduction in the age in which young people can vote in local council and parish elections and referendums.

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Deadline for responses

This consultation is being carried out by the Youth Citizenship Commission and it has asked for responses by 20 January 2009.

About the Youth Citizenship Commission

The Governance of Britain Green Paper announced that the government would set up a Youth Citizenship Commission (YCC). This was done on 29 February 2008 and it first met on 12 June 2008. The YCC was set up by the Ministry of Justice and focuses on young people aged 11 to 19, it was established to

z Examine what citizenship means to young people. z Consider how to increase young people's participation in politics; the development of citizenship among disadvantaged groups; how active citizenship can be promoted through volunteering and community engagement. z Lead a consultation on whether the voting age should be lowered to 16.

It is due to report to the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Justice in Spring 2009. Bridget Prentice, the Minister with responsibility for elections and youth democratic engagement, acts as a sponsor within government for the Commission's work. Professor Jonathan Tonge of Liverpool University is chair of the Commission and there are 13 other commissioners, including 3 young people and 8 individuals from a variety of professional backgrounds.

Comments

Turnout is often used as an argument both for and against votes at 16. While it is clearly the case that lowering the voting age would increase the franchise and give the opportunity to vote to many more people, it is also likely that the level of turnout would decline.

The issues around engaging with the electorate are ones which pose serious problems for political parties, who themselves have a declining membership. While votes at 16 would be an important message to send out to young people that politicians value their contribution to society, politicians will also need to engage with young people in ways and on issues with which they identify.

Authorities are urged to consider and respond to this consultation. Authorities may like to invite the views of young people including through any young people fora / youth parliaments and to seek to engage them in considering the issues around the minimum voting age.

Views about the effectiveness of citizenship education would also inform the debate. In particular, it would be helpful to consider, whether citizenship education is improving and whether it is successfully assisting in promoting political and social awareness and understanding among young people.

In addition to responding to this consultation, affiliates may also like to press the government to ask the Electoral Commission firstly to undertake research on the extent to which young people have political and social awareness in the light of citizenship education and to secondly to conduct a consultation on the minimum voting age in the light of that research as it promised in 2003.

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The LGiU would welcome copies of your responses.

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