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Briefing Note County Council – 27 March 2015 Agenda Item 13(d) - Notice of Motion by Mr Oxlade Extending the vote to 16 and 17-year-olds The current voting age for UK elections is 18, lowered from 21 after the Latey Commission’s recommendations led to the change being effected by the Representation of the People Act 1969. The first Parliamentary consideration of a further reduction of the voting age to 16 was given by the Home Affairs Committee inquiry in 1998 and the Howarth Working Party on Electoral Procedures in 1999; neither recommended a reduction in the voting age. In 1999, Liberal Democrat MP, Simon Hughes proposed an amendment to the Bill that became the Representation of the people Act 2000 to lower the voting age to 16. It was opposed by the then government and was defeated in the Commons by 436 votes to 36. Under the Scottish Independence Referendum (Franchise) Act 2013, 16 and 17 year-olds were given the right to vote in the referendum on Scottish Independence. This was introduced through the Scottish Parliament only. Final registration of 16 and 17-year-olds resident in Scotland for the referendum was around 89% of those in that age group. The Electoral Commission published its review of the voting age in April 2004. Although most responses to its consultation paper supported a voting age of 16, more general opinion polling suggested strong support for keeping to the present minimum of 18. The Commission recommended at that time to retain the 18 year age qualification but it accepted that circumstances might change, particularly as a result of the introduction of citizenship teaching that might improve the social awareness and responsibility of young people. Further reports such as those supported by the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust and that prepared by the Youth Citizenship Commission have added to the understanding of how voting age is connected to political engagement but subsequent attempts to change the law in parliament have so far failed. In recent years the idea of lowering the age of voting in the UK has gained increasing momentum, partly to increase participation in politics and public life across society. There is also the argument of the inconsistency in 16-year-olds being able to marry, join the army and pay tax but not be able to vote so as to influence the political decisions that affect their lives. The Electoral Society supports this position and has organised a coalition of political parties, pressure groups and charities, which resulted in the launch of the ‘Votes at 16’ campaign on 29 January 2003. The Liberal Democrats adopted the policy of reducing the voting age to 16 in their 2001 manifesto. The SNP, Plaid Cymru and the Green Party are also members of the Votes at 16 coalition. The Labour Party announced at its conference in September 2013 that it planned to include lowering the voting age to 16 in its manifesto for the 2015 general election. The Conservative party has not adopted a formal position on a reduction in voting age. The Office of National Statistics mid-year population estimates for 2013 show that there are 1,545,382 16 and 17 year olds in the UK (almost 1.3 million of who are in England). The British Electoral Study found that voter turnout among 18 to 21- year-olds at the 2010 general election was around 40% while that for those aged 65+ was almost double that. Citizenship was introduced in 2002 as a statutory National Curriculum foundation subject at key stages 3 and 4 following the recommendations of Bernard Crick’s Advisory group report ‘Teaching Citizenship and Democracy in schools’ (QCA, 1998). Free schools and academies - about half of schools – are exempt from teaching the citizenship curriculum. Citizenship Studies at GCSE and A level are used by many schools to recognize achievement of pupils at key stage 4 and beyond. Citizenship also forms part of a non-statutory National Framework alongside Personal, Social, Health and Citizenship Education (PSHCE) at key stages 1 and 2. School leaders and governors have the ultimate responsibility for the content and quality of the curriculum provision, within their statutory duties. The County Council does not provide a resource specifically to advise schools on Citizenship studies but has previously advised through PHSCE work. Peter Lewis Executive Director Corporate Resources and Services .
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