Bill to allow 16 year olds to vote to be debated in parliament

People of course are entitled to their personal opinions. accepting that a personal opinion is just that, personal and not evidence based.

Yes that research is very important in terms of the actions we take when young people commit crime, also in terms of safeguarding.

This shows just how desperate and pathetic Labour are are for voters.

Sine may say need to be at least 18 and have a full time job to vote

Generally the young folk I know are all politically aware ,be.ieve they have the information they need and think they can’t possibly do a worse job than several generations before them.
My opinion is they hit the nail right on the head.
The people of my country haven,t voted for tories in any great numbers….. ertainly not enough to get them into power since 1955 yes that is nineteen fifty five,yet we have been forced to live under Tory rule for over half that 71 years.
That’s not democracy in anyone book.
The young will live with their decisions so let them make their choices and even mistakes.
Let’s face it they have a huge number of mistakes before they even get Westminster in sight.
I,d rather give them a chance than the bigots and the brain dead who have dragged us into wars and out of the EU just to be able to manipulate their rich friends funds.
Arms traders and off shore accounts.
Move over and let fresh minds take your place.
The attitude towards young people on here is disgraceful…I guess you were never young idealistic or had hopes for your country How sad

eazybee

Too young, and some will be influenced by school teachers; not allowed , but it does happen, increasingly.
18 is the age.

I’d be more convinced that they are influenced by parents than teachers.

We are all influenced by somebody. What’s wrong with it being a teacher over a parent or friends or family? Is it because it’s more likely the teacher could have a different opinion than the parents?

You move over * Paddyann54* if you believe it’s time for you to do so.
I shall carry on voting as usual.

In Scotland 16 year olds can vote in all except a General Election. I think its madness. Goodness, it used to be 21 and that's when teenagers were given a lot more responsibility and not classed as children within the legal system for any wrong doing.

WithNobsOnIt

This shows just how desperate and pathetic Labour are are for voters.

Sine may say need to be at least 18 and have a full time job to vote

Well that would rule out a lot of people on GN 😂😂😂

The University of Sheffield and University of Edinburgh did a joint research study and found that as a result of young people in Scotland given the right to vote at 16 in 2014:

1) more likely to vote in higher numbers
2) continue to vote in higher numbers at ages where turn out is traditionally low
3) data sows positive effects on reducing inequality in turnout for different socio-economic groups
4) experts said the findings made the case for giving people younger people the right to vote across the UK to improve long erm voting patterns
5) Younger generations of voters are at ages where they are experiencing life's big changes, joining new circles, considering career choices, considering university and moving out of home etc and those influences could reveal influences that affect peoples motivation to participate over and above voting in the future.

The study found no negative outcomes and encouraged greater political engagement in society overall across different socio economic groups.

I can see no difference between 16 year olds in England than Scotland. Plus it was part of the Labour manifesto, they democratically won the election so now being discussed in parliament.

Some on this post have put forward personal opinions such as 16 year old have might not developed sufficient maturity/life experience/ability to make voting decisions etc. That is not borne out by the research evidence. Does that also mean in reverse- ie we should debate whether there comes an age when people are no longer able to vote because they are not economically active, may be experiencing cognitive decline, no longer have the ability to make voting decisions sensibly etc?

icanhandthemback

There is ample of scientific evidence that there is a lack of consequences linked to actions in young people caused by the way the brain is maturing. The Prefrontal Cortex which is responsible for complex, rational, and long-term thinking is the last part to fully mature. Politically the parties might have their ideas but you can't just trounce science. That is what I base my argument against voting at 16.

I’d love all voters to be tested first their capacity for complex, rational and ong long term thinking . 😂😂😂😂

Tuliptree- exactly 😂 😂 😂

If the criteria is brain age comparisons between 16 year old and 70 year old:

16 year old Brain Structure and development: The prefrontal brain cortex is not fully developed until the mid 20s. A 16 year old brain's strength often shows more conservative, loss minimising choices in complex economic tasks due to high analytical processing of risk.

70 year old Brain Structure and development: The brain experiences decreased white brain matter connectivity which can slow communication between neurons. Fluid intelligence declines making it harder to adapt and process new information.

I don't have particularly strong feelings either way in this subject but I do think that the information about brain development is important, and isn't simply just about people's 'prejudices' or personal opinions.

Galaxy

I don't have particularly strong feelings either way in this subject but I do think that the information about brain development is important, and isn't simply just about people's 'prejudices' or personal opinions.

You mean for both young and old?

There is the matter of development to consider as well as life experiences. At 16 most children are living at home with little knowledge of the world of work and less knowledge of finance and running a household let alone running a country. They are strongly influenced by their peer group, their immediate community and their parents. Their brains are still developing and there’s a lot to deal with especially around hormones and school pressures. Several studies show that political thinking is one of the last things to develop, often not beginning until we’re into our 20s, although some will develop it much earlier. A lot depends on what the child has been exposed to. I don’t think it’s a good idea to give 16 year olds to vote.

Well this is about a change to law with regards to young people, so it was in specific reference to that.

Tuliptree

Galaxy

I don't have particularly strong feelings either way in this subject but I do think that the information about brain development is important, and isn't simply just about people's 'prejudices' or personal opinions.

You mean for both young and old?

Why not? Technically my mother could vote but she has no idea about what it going on in the world politically. I think it is a nonsense.

Galaxy

Well this is about a change to law with regards to young people, so it was in specific reference to that.

If it’s argued that their are brain development arguments for denying 16-17 year old the vote, then in all fairness it should be applied across the board starting with the over 70s

So does that mean brain development should not be considered in terms of criminal proceedings, in terms of safeguarding ( grooming) etc. I do think we need to be very careful when talking about young people in this way.

Research shows positive benefits in enfranchising 16 year olds to vote not negative benefits in Scotland.

Putting the argument forward that 16 year olds' "brains are still developing especially around hormones and school pressures" misses the fact that the 16 year old brain has the capacity and strength in decision making abilities compared to declining brain as people age. With that argument the opposite consideration would have merit for those aging ie "when brains stops developing, starts to decline and has a lot of pressures to deal (menopause anyone) with around hormones and pressures etc " they should be no longer able to vote. Putting the argument forward they have less knowledge of finance, still living at home, are not running a household etc. Independent living and managing finances is the criteria? So only adults who have knowledge of finance are running a household should vote? That would exclude many older people living in care homes et. How much knowledge of finance should people have to be able to vote and how should it be measured- should here be a test?

I suggest the criteria might be - does a 16 year old have capacity to make a voting decision and is it good for society and politics or adverse for society and politics. The research shows they do have interest, motivation and capacity can and it has positive benefits in Scotland.

There would be uproar if 70 year olds were threatened with having their vote taken away.

Galaxy

So does that mean brain development should not be considered in terms of criminal proceedings, in terms of safeguarding ( grooming) etc. I do think we need to be very careful when talking about young people in this way.

But we’re completely inconsistent aren’t we? We tried the killers of Jane’s Bulgef in an adult court, we said Shanna Begum at 15 was fully responsible for her actions and suddenly when we feel threatened by 16-17 year olds we suddenly decide brain development issues really matter.

Shamima

Whether something is good for society is a very subjective thing. I do wonder if say in a couple of years time there was a strong surge in reform voting amongst the young would people still think it was positive for society.

I am not inconsistent, I have always said Shamima Begum was groomed.

Galaxy

Whether something is good for society is a very subjective thing. I do wonder if say in a couple of years time there was a strong surge in reform voting amongst the young would people still think it was positive for society.

But you can’t make decisions about the franchise on that basis.