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7 Reasons why 16 and 17 years olds should be allowed to vote

 

  1. If young people aged 16 and 17 are granted voting rights they will have a direct say in our democracy and will have a stake in determining the future of their local community and our society.
  2. Young people are best placed to advise and inform decisions which directly affect them, a vote is one of the best ways for any citizen to influence what happens locally and nationally.
  3. NYCI believes that if a 16 or 17 year old can leave school, seek full time employment, pay taxes or be detained at a detention centre, there is no reason why they shouldn’t be allowed to vote.
  4. Unlike previous generations, young people are much more informed as they undertake subjects at school such as the Civil, Social and Political Education course. Also young people today have access to a wide range of media including the internet where they can get information and  engage in discussions on issues and politics.
  5. Currently there is a big problem with the voting registration system. Up to 25% of young people aged 18-25 are not registered to vote which is partly due to the fact that at 18 the vast majority are moving away from home to college, training or work and they fall through the administrative cracks. In constrast the vast majority of youth aged 16 are in school, so it would be very easy to put them on the register.
  6. There is a global and European momentum towards extending the right to vote to young people at 16 and 17 years old. Austria has lowered the voting age for all elections to 16, seven of the 16 lander (states) in Germany have lowered the voting age and a canton (regions) in Switzerland has also done so. Other countries such as the UK are also considering such a move. In Germany the voter turnout from young people aged 16 and 17 was higher than for some older age groups. (link here to what is happening in the rest of world page)
  7. Young people are taught about democracy and participation at school through courses like the civil, social and political education course, they should also in our view get a chance to practice it through being able to vote.

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