Votes at 16, backdoor policy pressure

[kaosmark2]

Presumably it'd open the question again though?

A high turnout amongst 16-17 year olds would raise the question as to whether earlier voting rights would increase young people's interest in politics generally.

And the 'idiots' argument doesn't hold up if you assume that most won't bother.

[G-Stud]

edinburgh is full of them. But can that be considered scottish?

[metallimuse]

Nobody's gunna make a joke about anal despite the thread title?When did we become so classy in this forum

[metallimuse]

Would be lying if I say it wasn't the first thing on my mind

[kaosmark2]

Nobody's gunna make a joke about anal despite the thread title?When did we become so classy in this forum

[metallimuse]

That's something you're not allowed to do until 21!

[kaosmark2]

Like ANYONE waits for the legal age to do whatever it is they do...other than maybe driving.

[metallimuse]

And voting

[AcademicPistol]

That's something you're not allowed to do until 21!

[rug568]

They're old enough to pay taxes, so they are old enough to have a say on what the taxes are paid on.

Also it is worth pointing out older people vote for the BNP, UKIP, National Socialists and the Monster Raving Loony party.

[grumpyhack]

Back in 1963 Screaming Lord Sutch formed the National Teenage Party, which campaigned for lowering the voting age from 21 to 18. Everyone said he was loony to suggest such an idea as teenagers couldn't be relied on.

That led years later to him forming the Monster Raving Loony Party.

He cheered up so may by elections I covered as a journalist but knew more about electoral law and had a better insight into politics than many mainstream politicians.

Edited October 12, 2012 by grumpyhack

[Kyelo]

I have always said the voting age should be 16. The day you can work full time and pay tax is the day you should get a say in how that money is spent.