would you give 16-17year olds the vote???

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Government thinks 16-year olds are responsible enough to parent a child, 17yo's to drive a potentially life-endangering vehicle.

but not to vote, lmao.

The view they won't vote seriously or aren't informed enough says something about our education system more than anything

They need to define what 'child' means

Reply 21

Green_Pink

Yes. At the age of 16, you start making serious decisions about your own future for the first time - your education, your career, often your financial independence. You're directly and personally effected far more by the decisions of the Government and you've been through the basic levels of education deemed necessary for everyone so in my mind, there's no reason you shouldn't be able to case your vote.

Reply 22

Associativity

Do they actually want it? Bear in mind that only a very low number of young people are voting at the moment.

Also, bear in mind how stupid the kids of that age can be, I was seen as the keener for actually behaving myself and trying to study at school. Bear in mind the kind of stupid things they do, and then ask yourself as to whether you really want them to have a say over the running of this country. Sadly, there are a few sensible people of this age who totally deserve it and don't get it, and child minded adults that shouldn't even be allowed behind the wheel of a car let alone vote, but that's life. It would also be a bit crazy not to allow them to drink, smoke or drive but to allow them to vote in an election.

Also, if you want some more reasons not to let 16 year olds vote, check this thread out: http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=3242789

If one direction can manipulate kids of that age to that extent, who's to stop a political party doing the same? God help us if justin bieber stood for election...

Reply 23

deborarosa

Nah...at age 16 most of us don't really care or know anything about politics. Even now..Im in year 13 (18) some people I know are considering voting UKIP 'for the bants' .............

Reply 24

rainshadow

I'd allow Year 13s/2nd year college students to vote. By this time most of the young people are matured and they will actually have to live with the policies implemented.

Reply 25

username1331498

No way, they don't have enough experience to make an educated decision.

Reply 26

the bear

the brains of teenagers are not fully developed. it would be unwise to expect these young folk to make rational decisions of great import.

Original post by the bear

the brains of teenagers are not fully developed. it would be unwise to expect these young folk to make rational decisions of great import.

The brain is not fully developed at 18 either. I think the current consensus is that the brain stops developing at 25.

Reply 29

typonaut

No. And here's the reason: if we allow 16 and 17 year olds to vote then we also have to acknowledge that they are full citizens, that is adults, without age-related restrictions on what they can do. Effectively that means that we have to allow them to take out credit cards, be subject to civil court action, legally drink alcohol, be fully criminally responsible, watch 18-rated films (although this will no longer make sense) view and take part in pornography...

While we might think that some of those categories are fair enough, I don't expect that many think they are all acceptable.

Reply 30

randomerlizzi

No.
I didn't want that responsibility when I was 16, and I still don't.

Reply 31

democracyforum

no

people who know nothing about politics shouldn't vote

Good God, NEVER.

Original post by maxisuper

Parenting children and driving cars don't affect the entire country

Reply 34

salisbury12

No, I am 18 and have only really just taken an interest in Politics. 16 year olds are too immature and policies hardly affect them. (eg alcohol tax, mortgage and so on).

Reply 35

green.tea

Original post by Tasha0

Even the 18/19 year olds who are able to vote this year either don't want to (due to a lack of knowledge) or plan to vote for a party just for the sake of 'banter'. 16/17 year olds will be too easily influenced by the decisions of others due to being ill informed.

More so than your average 20 year old idiot? I reckon they'd be less influenced because there's not so much political stuff aimed at younger groups.

Why is age considered the more reasonable deciding factor? All the points against in this thread apply to stupid people.

Age discrimination is illegal whereas intelligence discrimination isn't. So the factor that would best control the quality of voter should actually be less controversial than the current system. Therefore I say no votes for below 110 iq. Or maybe a tiered system. .1 of a vote per 10 points.

(edited 9 years ago)

Reply 36

DasSnipez

Loving this thread, for some reason people seem to think that at 18 you're suddenly this well informed political beast, you aren't.

You can pay attention to politics at any age so the limit should be based on the age at which you are deemed CAPABLE of understanding what is being said, not whether people think you will bother.

Either lower the age limit or introduce a test that anyone can take that allows them to vote that shows they have made a reasoned decision, that'd take out a lot of the morons across all age ranges.

My personal preference is dropping the age to 16.

(edited 9 years ago)

Reply 37

tomfailinghelp

Original post by DasSnipez

Nobody said that they thought 'at 18 you're suddenly this well informed political beast'.

To say that its preferable the age should be 18 rather than 16 is not to say that there is a dramatic difference in capability between the two, its just to say that there is probably some (significant) difference, and there obviously is.

Your idea of a test is ridiculous. Should we prevent those who are not able to pass the test from voting? If not, why not?

We should keep the system how it is or, possibly, raise the voting age. 18 year-olds are largely stupid, and those who aren't are still unlikely to be well-informed enough or intelligent enough to vote properly.

Reply 38

Ezme39

Only if schools offered some sort of political education- the majority of 16 yr olds know shockingly little about UK politics, and without this they cannot make an informed decision :smile:

18 yr olds are more likely to do their own research with less parental bias, but if 16/17 yr olds were better informed then I would support giving them the vote

Reply 39

DasSnipez

Original post by tomfailinghelp

>its just to say that there is probably some (significant) difference, and there obviously is.

What are you basing this on?

>Your idea of a test is ridiculous. Should we prevent those who are not able to pass the test from voting? If not, why not?

Yes and a minor change to your closing statement will tell you why.

Change:
> 18 year-olds are largely stupid, and those who aren't are still unlikely to be well-informed enough or intelligent enough to vote properly.

to:

People are largely stupid, and those who aren't are still unlikely to be well-informed enough or intelligent enough to vote properly.

I'll also point out that I don't AGREE with the idea of a test, I just think that if we are accusing those under a certain age of being too stupid or ill-informed to vote that we should carry that out across the voting population which is also full of the ill-informed and idiotic.