The UK Government is currently considering offering the vote to about 1.5 million 16- and 17-year-olds ahead of the next general election.... but is this about social justice for the young and revitalising democracy, like many Labour MPs claim, or just a cynical attempt to secure another half a million votes, as younger people TEND to vote left.
The Case For Votes at 16
Those who campaign for extending the franchise along age lines claim democracy is in decline, with trust in politicians at an all-time low and turnout dropping. Fewer than just over half of those eligible actually voted in the recent general election, and that's normal based on previous years' turnout figures too.
By giving 16- and 17-year-olds the vote, campaigners hope to create voting habits at an earlier age, and studies have established that the early starter voter is more likely to carry on voting later in life. And surely anything which brings more people to the ballot box has to be a good thing.
Then there's the fact that social policy has probably MORE of an effect on younger people than older... from pensions and social care to immigration consequences and climate change... policy now will impact younger people in the future, they need to have a say.
The Case Against Votes at 16
Critics argue that 16-year-olds are still legally considered children in the majority of areas of life. They cannot buy booze, drive alone in a car, or give blood. For most, schooling is still their full-time occupation, and few give income taxes or have to face the entire weight of adulthood.
Sixteen-year-olds may be able to enlist, but they cannot be deployed in combat until 18. For critics, extending the vote is not about fairness but about political advantage – what some describe as “cynical gerrymandering.”
There’s also scepticism about whether Labour would even benefit. Though young people have always voted left – and Jeremy Corbyn has won over 60% of young people's votes in the past – today's "digital native" teens are influenced by TikTok, YouTube, and online stars who defy narrow ideological labels. Others, including Nigel Farage, have received more online backing than almost all MPs, leaving open the possibility of younger voters turning to right-populism or one-issue politics such as climate politics or solidarity with Palestine.
Final thoughts
IMO allowing a younger vote almost the least the government can do to connect more with younger people, the vote should just be the beginning, MORE efforts to get younger people socially engaged required please!