Should the voting age be lowered?
When Gordon Brown became Prime Minster last summer, there were calls for a General Election to prove that the public wanted him to lead our country...
That never happened, but if it did, would you have voted?
The voting age in the UK is currently 18. However, there are calls to lower it to 16. Conservative party leader David Cameron is said to be in favour, and the debate is a hot topic in the Scottish parliament.
There are two schools of thought…
When you’re 16 you can legally get married, join the army and start a job that pays taxes…all major things that can have a big effect on your life. So why can’t you vote? Voting gives you a say in how this country is run, and if you’re contributing to this country’s way of life then why can’t you have the right to shape how it is governed?
On the other hand, young people make up the smallest percentage of people who actually use their vote. Politicians are either seen as dull and boring, or tragically failing to be “down with the kids”. If the voting age is lowered to 16, would this make any difference?
What do you think? What would it take to get you to the polling station? Do young people have the maturity to decide who runs the country, or would they just throw their vote away if some celebrity stood for election?
Youthshouts has already reported a few opinions on the subject, check out their story by clicking the link below.
The Mole wants to know your views, so get thinking...
