The document discusses the ongoing campaign to lower the UK's voting age from 18 to 16. [1] The campaign argues that 16- and 17-year-olds are mature enough to vote as they hold responsibilities in society and should have a say in decisions that affect their future. [2] However, others counter that most young people lack sufficient political knowledge and may be influenced by parents, posing the question of where to draw the line on the voting age. [3] Both sides present reasonable arguments for and against lowering the voting age.

2. Should the government change the
law so that 16 and 17 year olds can
vote?

3. The Campaign
The votes at 16 campaign want our political system to recognise the
abilities of 16 year olds. To properly include them in our society and
show them the trust and respect that society expects of them by
giving them the right to vote.
Key Points:
• There are over 1.5 million 16 and 17 year olds in the UK denied the
vote.
• Votes at 16 is a campaign made up of young people, organisations
and network of politicians across the UK.
• They believe that people are ready for Votes at 16 because it will:
• Engage 16 and 17 year olds at the ballot who hold many
responsibilities in our society
• Empower 16 and 17 year olds, through a democratic right, to
influence decisions that will define their future
• Inspire young people to get involved in our democracy.

4. Fighting for their Rights
There is a clear and consistent demand from young people for the
voting age to be lowered to 16. Thousands of young people have
signed up to support this on going campaign. Individual young people,
youth councils and youth groups across the UK are lobbying their
parliamentary representatives for the right to vote at 16.
However this campaign has been met with opposition. In the last
general election (2010) only 44% 18-24 years old turn up to vote,
which hasn’t help people take this campaign seriously.

5. Who can Vote?
To vote in a UK general election a person must be registered to vote and
also:
• be 18 years of age or over on polling day
• be resident in the UK
• be a British citizen, a qualifying Commonwealth citizen or a citizen of the
Republic of Ireland
• not be subject to any legal incapacity to vote
The following cannot vote in a UK general election:
• members of the House of Lords (although they can vote at elections to
local authorities, devolved legislatures and the European Parliament)
• EU citizens resident in the UK (although they can vote at elections to local
authorities, devolved legislatures and the European Parliament)
• anyone other than British, Irish and qualifying Commonwealth citizens
• convicted persons detained in pursuance of their sentences (though
remand prisoners, unconvicted prisoners and civil prisoners can vote if
they are on the electoral register)
• anyone found guilty within the previous five years of corrupt or illegal
practices in connection with an election

6. What’s the
big deal?

7. At 16 you can…
• Join the army, fight and die
for your country in war
• Pay tax on any earnings
from part time or full time
work
• Get married (with your
parents’ consent)
• Start a family

8. But you cannot…
• Vote for the leaders who
decide whether we go to
war or not
• Vote for those who decide
how your taxes are spent
• Vote for those who make
the laws on marriage
• Vote for those who make
the laws on education and
parenting

9. There are two sides to every
argument

10. 5 reasons why they Should they get the
vote?
1. If we are to convince young people that they can make a difference and that their
views will be listened to we need to lower the voting age to 16 in all UK elections.
2. Lowering the voting age to 16 will give young people an opportunity to be involved
with decision-making in Britain and inspire young people to influence British politics.
3. 16 and 17 year olds can leave home and live independently, get married and start a
family, join the army and pay taxes so why can’t they vote?
4. Young people are just as passionate about the world they live in as the rest of society
– they care about decisions made on education, on tackling climate change and the
credit crunch and to and they want to change the society they live in for the better.
They should get to vote about the issues they care about and that have an affect on
their lives too.
5. Students learn about politics and citizenship in school so they are in a good position to
make an informed decision at elections but yet they are denied the right to use this
knowledge

11. 5 reasons why they shouldn’t they get the
vote
1. Quite simply, 16-year-olds, generally, don’t have enough knowledge about politics and
political parties to cast a well informed vote.
2. Most children are likely to be heavily influenced by the beliefs of their teachers and
parents, so effectively these groups would get extra votes
3. The line has to be drawn somewhere. If the voting age was reduced to 16, could we
then expect to hear cries for allowing 14-year-olds the vote? 18 is the age when an
individual becomes an adult.
4. Voting is a very serious and important responsibility. A huge amount of 16 year olds
are just not responsible enough or mature enough to use their vote wisely.
5. Teenagers are at their most rebellious and negative stage, a time when they are more
keen on making a bold statement than acting responsibly. Rebellion against your
parents' taste in music and their rules is one thing; let's not make that part of the
democratic process by which our government is elected.

12. Food for thought
Headliners Votes at 16 Clip
http://www.votesat16.org/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9mdNmep-ZE
http://www.co-operative.coop/membership/changing-the-
world/add-your-voice-to-a-campaign/votes-at-16/
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8602921.stm