Tonight the BBC showed a fantastic documentary on the Votes at 16 campaign, which I fully support! (If you haven’t seen it, it’s here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00m0sd0/16_Too_Young_to_Vote/) Fronted by Melissa Suffield (Lucy Beale in Eastenders), we saw a well-presented look at the issues regarding the lowering of the voting age.
The main argument is that 16 and 17 year olds accept many responsibilities of citizenship. They can: join the army; pay tax; join the workforce; get married; have a family – et cetera et cetera. Yet, this country refuses them the rewards of citizenship – the vote.
Yes, people will continue to spout the notion that 16 year olds not being mature enough to vote – or that they would not use it. But this is rubbish! Studies have shown that if 16 and 17 year olds had the vote, they would vote in the same proportions as the 18+. As for immaturity, I believe that a large portion of the problems here lie with the lack of respect society reserves for minors. If you give people respect, they will respect you back.
There’s a lot more information here: www.votesat16.org.uk
SPOILER: We see two people’s votes in the programme: both Lib Dem!
One Response to “16: Too Young To Vote?”
Yes, it was very good, though I only saw it at about four am this morning so must have been watching a repeat!
Very sad how all those people at such a young age have been hoodwinked into believing that democracy can do any good though…:) We need our young people to remain as full of anarchic freedom-loving hope for the future as long as possible!
When she was talking to the ex-con I began to wonder if it was a bit of Lib Dem product placement – when we saw both the votes, it seemed certain!