Vote At 16

In most places in the UK the voting age is currently 18 but in the Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey it has been reduced to 16.

We are working on a campaign to reduce the voting age to 16. We believe 16 and 17 year olds should have the right to vote. At 16 you can drive, leave school, join the army, leave home, work full time, get married and have a family. To have been given these rights young people must have been seen as responsible individuals.

A lot of young people work full time after leaving school so they pay taxes. In 2005 to 2006, 16 and 17 year olds paid about £47 million in taxes but by not giving 16 and 17 year olds the vote they are not getting a say in how the government uses their taxes.

In the media young people are given a negative image. The Headliners did an anonymous survey which included 100 young people and adults from across London to find out how the world sees young people and how much impact the media had on these beliefs. They found that 47% of adults believe that teenagers are portrayed in the media as drug abusers, alcoholics or as participating in anti-social behaviour. Only 7% of people surveyed believed they are portrayed in a positive way.

People believe young people are not interested in politics but a public consultation by the Electoral Commission in 2004 contradicts this very common argument. It showed that 72% of respondents favoured lowering the voting age to 16. Nearly 8000 young people participated in this consultation. Funky Dragons made a more recent survey and found that 80% of young people in Wales wanted to vote at 16.

By being allowed to join the army at 16 it is only right for 16 year olds to be able to have a say in where they are sent to war. According to the Child Soldiers Coalition in 2004, the number of under 18s serving in the army was between 6000 and 7000.

In 2002, Citizenship became a compulsory subject which was to be taught in secondary schools across England. They learned more about politics than that of the former generation who are voting now. What they have learnt will not benefit them in any way until they become 18 or over. This time can sometimes add up to 7 years.


The UK government is denying 16 and 17 year old the right to vote. The longer 16 and 17 year olds are denied this right, the smaller the chance of them engaging in politics later on in life. Every year the number of 18-24 year olds voting is dropping. This is due to the disengagement of teenagers because they were not given the vote at the age of 16.


Who are we?


We are a group called Young Voices and we are aiming to lower the voting age from 18 to 16 years of age. We are also aiming to change the stereotypical views about teenagers which are portrayed by the media these days. As a pressure group, we are trying to achieve this by getting MPs to change their views about teenagers and to pass the bill which was rejected.



How can you help?


Spread the word to your friends and family!
Contact your MP.
Post a comment on your opinions on voting at 16.