Want to campaign for the 16 year old vote?

We would be giving the vote to feotuses if people like you truly had your way. Your only advocating giving the vote to 16 year olds because you know they will vote in a certain manner.

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if you are old enough to be punished for your crimes you are old enough to vote. *

A potential problem with adding something to the curriculum is having it taught by a sandal and sock combo wearing Liberal leftie. That would not be in the best interests of UK plc imho.

I think a test which is about the referendum should be good enough. What are the main bodies of the EU? or how much money does the UK actually spend on the EU taking into account the money that comes back/How does the EU work?

for a general election, perhaps they should be tested on the values of the parties in competition? I mean, what they represent, what their plans are, etc..

It sounds a bit idealistic, but I think it's still better than no test at all.

It's perfectly possible to teach people about democratic responsibility, the history of the parties, different political movements, how politicians and parties are voting on different issues etc.. without teachers personal views having to come into it.

I'm 16, and I have long been interested in political affairs, and how the world's democratic system is changing- one of my biggest interests within politics is that of the educational systems.

A large number of my friends, ranging from ages 14-17, also have interests in political affairs. Some of them want to vote, some of them don't want to. The ones who want to vote are highly engaged in the world around them, and most of them can pose very strong debates for or against their viewpoint, and are often very philosophical within their ideologies. The ones who don't want to vote are either not particularly interested by politics, or don't want to be part of something so great.

I don't go to a private school.
I'm not incredibly rich.
I don't live in London, nor do I live around London.
I do not, in any way, consider my viewpoints to be a result of the news outlets, nor do I consider my viewpoints to be a result of propaganda.

I have formulated my own views, as have the majority of my politically interested friends. I mean, one of them has been researching EU politics since he was 10.

My mother is 35 [yes, I know. She was a teen mother.], and she has never been interested in politics. She thought Donald Trump was already the president, she thought that Syria was in Italy, and that David Cameron was the leader of the Labour party- who, according to her, were interested entirely in 'pregnant women'.

Simply put, how can she and her like minded friends deserve a vote in such important political events, yet my peers and I don't?

As you turn 16 and 17 you gain the rights to get married, have children, join the army, drive, fly planes, as well as the to go to adult prison.

Absolutely 100% against it. I dont even believe 18 year olds should be able to vote due to a lack of experience and understanding of how the world works. Just look at the great majority of Bernie supporters: College/University educated people with very little understanding of politics and economics - despite their education.

I know this is not possible, but around 30 seems a good age to make an educated vote.

Also, whats next, 12 year old vote?

If this was even a viable option there'd have to be some kind of mandatory political class in school. Seriously, I knew nothing about politics when I was 16.

Edit: I think there should be anyway. I'm 18 and I'm still incredibly ill informed. Just a little less so because I've decided to read up on things.

I'm fairly certain that in the UK under certain circumstances you can be punished from 10 years old, you sure you wanna go down that route?

10 year olds have to live at least 70 years with the choices of Brexit.... their steak in the future is huge. *

I hope they like beef then :/

I've been overwhelmed by the number of highly engaged young students having really well informed debates on key political issues.

As young people, you will also have to live with the consequences of political decisions for longer than any of the rest of us.

Can't disagree with you more there.

I don't buy the 'it is the young's future' argument. This is implying that the older generations don't care about the future of this country because they're going to die soon. This is an outrageous view, many of them have children or grandchildren, I'd say it is equally important or even more important to them to give the best future to the future generation than their own future.

I hope more people can realise this. As you get older you become not only responsible for yourself, but your family and parents. The responsibility does not diminish with age as that view implies.

Ask your parents how they feel, I'm sure most would say that one becomes more concerned about one's children's future than their own.

I guess it depends on where we are looking....Just one example...BHASVIC - the local sixth form college where I am a governor - had massive political debates with many hundreds of highly engaged students either debating or watching the debate prior to the last election. That definitely happened.

I'm not saying that older people's views count any less, just that the people who are going to be affected for decades do have a valid reason to be heard too.