The right to vote is one of the most important privileges afforded in a democracy. Here in Wales, the vote has provided men and women with real power, giving them the ability to topple governments; oust unpopular politicians; establish new parliaments; and decide our fortunes with regard to EU membership.
Our democracy works, the regular cycle of elections ensures that the views of the voters are listened to, most of the time, and, if they aren’t, there are often consequences for councillors, AMs and MPs.
Having the opportunity to vote is one which many people take for granted, but we don’t have to go that far back in the history books to find times when people were denied the opportunity to vote because of their gender, race, or lack of wealth. Thankfully, time has moved on, and today almost every modern democracy accepts that all adult citizens should have the right to vote. But what does adult mean? Is it something defined by age, maturity, or something else.
In most countries adult is taken for voting purposes to mean those aged 18 or older, although in some nation states young people do not have a right to vote until they are 21, and in several countries the voting age is 16 or 17.
Here is Wales the current voting age is 18, but new powers being devolved to the National Assembly for Wales by the UK Parliament look set to give Assembly Members the ability to lower the voting age for Welsh Assembly elections. The Assembly has debated and discussed the idea of votes at 16 in the past and it looks likely that if a formal proposal was put to AMs in the future it would receive the backing of most, but I won’t be doing so.
Those who want to lower the voting age argue that it will increase voter turnout and help to engage young people in politics. 16 year olds pay tax, they say, get married, and can join the army so why shouldn’t they be able to vote for those who set the tax rate, make decisions which affect families, and send people to war? They have a point, but I’m not convinced.
Voter turnout as a percentage of all voters is actually likely to fall if more young people are registered to vote. The fact is that at the moment I don’t see 16 and 17 year old clamouring for the chance to vote and those young people who are eligible, 18-25 year olds, are actually the least likely age group to cast their votes at election time - I can’t see how giving even more under 25s the vote is going to change that. Surely, it’s more important that we focus on increasing registration and turnout among young people who currently do have the vote, rather than introducing even younger people to the system?
While some young people are keenly interested in politics and have clear views on who should form a government, the reality is that many 16 and 17 year olds simply don’t feel confident enough to make decisions about who runs their local council or country. They are still maturing, and have not learned enough yet through education, and life experiences, to make fully informed decisions; they may have adult bodies, but their minds are still developing and learning. That’s why politicians have legislated to some decisions for them; for example, there are laws to protect under 18s from the harms of alcohol, tobacco, and even sunbed use!
One view which I share with proponents of lowering the voting age, is that we should have a common age of responsibility. In my view, it is difficult to justify the different ages at which young people are deemed to be responsible enough to choose sexual partners, drive or buy themselves a pint in the local pub. My own view is that the age of responsibility should be levelled up to 18 and, with the exception of voting, I don’t hear anyone advocating levelling the age down to 16 for everything instead.
Whether they realise it or not, young people can and do influence politics. I began my involvement in politics when I was 15 and, even though I was unable to vote, I did not feel powerless or unable to influence the outcome of elections. Why? Because I felt confident in my ability to share my views with elected representatives and persuade other people who were eligible to vote to cast their ballot in the direction of the political party I supported.
Politicians ignore the views of children and young people at their peril. We recognise them as the voters of the future and know that their parents’ and grandparents’ voting intentions are often shaped by not just what’s best for them, but what’s best for their children and grandchildren too.
Good politicians engage with young people, visit schools and youth groups and advocate on their behalf. The more we can facilitate this as a society then the more confident the young people of today will be about letting their views be known to those in power, and the more informed they will be when they are given the vote at 18.
So, instead of lowering the voting age, let’s educate our young people, including those younger than 16, about how our democracy works and how they can influence those in power; let’s drive up the voter turnout for those between 18-25; and let’s help them to prepare to be confident adults who participate in the democracy we all hold dear.