Labour would allow 16-year-olds to vote in future general elections

37 comments

1. Good

   It’s only old people that I see argue against this but honestly…. I’ve seen a lot more mature 16 year olds who know how to separate fact from fiction…. Then people of boomer age.

   A worryingly large amount can’t tell what an AI image is, deep fake voice is, or what chat bots are. All those things can be used by foreign powers to Influence public opinion on various topics including elections. Why should the fate of the country be left to people who can’t even turn a computer on.

2. Great in theory, but actually getting them to go out and vote will be a struggle.

   Perhaps make it into a TikTok challenge.
   That’ll boost the numbers somewhat.

3. Good. If 16 year olds had been allowed to vote in 2016 Brexit would never have happened.

4. So they’re proposing that 16 will be the age of consent, ability to serve in the military, drinking age, and they’ll have the ability to enter into legal contracts as well? One age for ‘everything adult’?

5. Well they probably can’t do a shitter job than people over 18.

   Also, why wouldn’t 17year olds be able to vote too?

6. Shouldn’t be too hard to use schools as polling stations. Even better if election day is a bank holiday. And why stop at 16? Why not 10 year olds?

7. Great, you can’t do jury service, you can’t get a tattoo, you can’t sign a contract, and legally you’re a minor, but you can make decisions on how the country is run.
   Great. Let them do brain surgery too.

   In fact why not let 14 year olds vote or even 12?

8. That’s nice but I want 15-year-olds to vote in elections. Then I’ll campaign for 14YO etc eventually sperm and eggs will be able to vote.

9. Straight out of conformity classes to the voting booth…

10. I don’t understand why this has become such a tribal, divisive topic in these comments?

    Old enough to pay taxes? Old enough to have a say.

    You don’t need to start arguments about “young people are more intelligent than boomers” and all that fecking nonsense. Makes you sound like an arse and part of a larger problem in the UK with these tribalist, polarized attitudes. Same applies for the other side of the coin. Young people aren’t stupid and referring my original point. If you’re old enough to contribute to the state, you’re old enough to hold an opinion.

11. Brain doesn’t stop developing until 25. Voting age should be raised to that.

12. Good, if you’re old enough to have a job and pay taxes you have every right to vote on how the country is run

13. Good. It works for Scottish and Welsh elections so no reason it shouldn’t be extended to general elections. Many 16 and 17 year old work and pay taxes so it’s only right they have a say in politics. Those who aren’t are the ones most directly affected by education and (some) employment policies, being at exam stages and planning future employment or college/university. 

14. So at 16 you won’t be able to vape, smoke or drink, your parents will still have to give permission for you to have an operation and will still be legally responsible for you but you’ll be allowed to vote, someone just needs to make a decision on at what age you become an adult.

15. It makes more sense for 16yos to be able to vote than it does for 90yos to be able to vote.

16. Good. Ive wanted this since i got my first taxed paycheck when i was 16. Either raise the tax age or lower the voting age

17. Yet they can’t be trusted to buy a can of Redbull. Interesting…..

18. At 16 my political opinions were the polar opposite as they were when I turned 18. 16 year olds are impulsive and easily manipulated.

19. Complain all you want about election boundary fiddling but this is turbo gerrymandering. Next step will be giving dominos enjoyers the vote

20. Good. At 16 you can get a job. You can pay tax on your income. You should have a say in how that money is used.

21. Good. I was too young to vote on the outcome of brexit and its likely going to make my life far more difficult (read; expensive), chances are these decisions are going to make far more impact on a 16 year old then they are on an 80 year old.

22. I wish I could vote but I guess I will have to wait until following elections ,,,

23. 20 years old are idiots & don’t know anything about anything, let alone 16 year olds!

    There is only one reason why any party would want to do this? an illiterate voting demographic that has a tendency to vote for that party that trying to set it up! Interesting???

    Schools have been indoctrinating kids rather than educating them over the past couple of years & in the UK they are predominantly left wing institutions!

24. i earnestly don’t care about this either way. any voting age is arbitrary and 16 feels like it makes about as much sense as 18 does

25. When in power, pass laws to ensure you stay in power

    Entrench your position

26. Good.

    There’s no reason 16 year olds shouldn’t be able to vote. All the discourse on this over the years and I haven’t heard a single, valid argument against it.

27. If you can fight for your country, you should be able to vote

28. Politics make me 🤢

    Conservatives or tories, or whatever you call the other side of the dumpster will announce that dead people can vote now.

    Disgusting all around. All across the world. Sickening experience.

    At this point I would rather watch and take part in Kardashian show then this!

    Not a fan of both sides. Sick of stupid shit from both sides. Useless!

29. 18 is the age of majority in the country, the age you can take out finance, drink, fight in the army. If people want the voting ages lowered then the age of majority and of adult responsibility should go with it. There are obviously going to be more mature and politically aware 16 year olds than some adults, but we don’t add an aptitude test to the ability to vote.

    The argument that 16 year olds pay tax on income so should be able to vote is ridiculous- 1 year olds in acting etc can pay income tax so why shouldn’t they have a vote on how that money is spent? How old should the age of responsibility be? Why 16, and not 14 or 15? 13 year olds are able to work (part time) and pay income tax (without a performing licence), just like a 16 year old.

    If you’re linking voting to tax paid or working full time, you’re also creating a (tenuous) argument against universal suffrage above the age of majority for non tax payers. Why should non income tax payers get a say on how money is spent? (I vehemently disagree with this btw just illustrating the point)

30. As Sean Lock once said “anyone over 65 shouldn’t get to vote, it’s not really their future. I’d get down the voting age to *I forgot which he said* because it is their future”

31. Old enough to marry, have children, work and pay tax, old enough to vote.

32. Good; I’m sure I don’t agree on much with any given 16 year old but they do know enough to be able to vote.

33. I’m sure I’ll get downvoted but this is a terrible idea. I’m sure it has nothing to do with the vast majority of people that age being left leaning.

    At that age I know I was far left. Also, idealistic,immature ect . Honestly I’d probably increase the age to 21 if I had to change anything.

    I also understand the argument about being old enough to fight for your country.

    Leave it as it is .

34. I’m sure the angry Boomerati are going to be livid!

    Next up, remove that triple lock. Workers first, pensioners second.

35. Let’s be honest. The only reason Labour want to give 16 year olds the vote is because they lean left.

36. That’s too young if you ask me. You’re still a child at 16 and the overwhelming majority of people that age wouldn’t be able to understand the ramifications of what they’re voting for. (I know plenty of people older than that don’t either, but at 16-18 you’re still forming your critical thinking skills.)

37. Genuinely shocked so many people in this thread are for this. Don’t know about you, but I was a complete fucking idiot when I was 16. I knew basically nothing about the world and even less about politics. No way should I have had the vote.