Forum Topic

Should 16/17yr olds get the vote?

Ed wants to copy Salmond and give 16 and 17 year olds the vote. Do you think it's a good idea?Unfortunately there's no breakdown on the voting last week but it would be ironic if this had caused a majority No verdict

David P Archer ● 4149d11 Comments

No.Not until they are in a position to contribute to the economy.I think it should not be until 21 along with drinking alcohol.Give them a few years of carefree life before the world of politics taints them like it does with everything else politics infests

Anthony Waller ● 4145d

No representation without taxation?

Keith Iddon ● 4145d

No not until they are 18 and paying Tax or on the Dole ;-)

Stephen Scott ● 4145d

Sensible suggestions - I'll go along with them.

Gerry Tan ● 4147d

Votes at 21. MPs no younger than 40. £1-00 per week on your state pension for every General election you vote in. All other elections excluded.

George Knox ● 4147d

I think compulsory voting has been discussed before. I remain against it for it would be yet one more bit of compulsion by the state, one which is not needed.

Graham Weeks ● 4148d

As I've stated previously, 16 years of age is far too young to have a vote Graham. I'd like to see compulsory voteing for every eligible voter!

Gerry Tan ● 4148d

You know the old adage, 'If you are not a socialist at 20 you have no heart. If you are one at 40 you have no brain'. I do not know why Cameron let leftie Salmond get away with a teenage vote. I am also at a loss to know why EU citizens resident in Scotland had a vote when they have no vote in British parliamentary elections.

Graham Weeks ● 4148d

Having experienced how little school leavers seem to know about just coping with living independently I think they have a lot they need to learn first.  Getting wise to the hype of marketing is important.  The vote is made to sound more important than it is.

Philippa Bond ● 4149d

Of course not!I'm with Gerry - it's debatable whether even 18 year olds should have the vote.

Tony Colliver ● 4149d

I feel that 16 years old(young) is too immature to know much about life and politics or serious decision making.  I think 21 is the best age to begin to vote imo.

Gerry Tan ● 4149d