Kids Count at the Labour Party Conference

The turnout of 3,619,915 people (84 per cent of Scotland) was unusually high for a ballot in the United Kingdom. Scotland voted ‘No’ with 2,001,926 votes over 1,617,989 for ‘Yes’. However this was the first time that 16-17 year olds were given enfranchisement for the referendum, and only 0.1 per cent of 16-17 year olds actually casted a vote.

Although at the Labour Party Conference, Ed Miliband promised he would give 16 and 17 year olds the vote following the Scottish Referendum, I disagree with this. The Labour leader said it was "time to hear the voice of young people" yet only a tiny proportion of Scotland’s young people voted. This would suggest that if Parliament were to give 16-17 year olds the vote, they wouldn’t that actually use it.

If something like the Scottish referendum, which is a huge issue that would have a big impact on their lives didn’t encourage young people to vote would a general election? The high profile publicity and campaign for the Scottish vote only motivated 3,000 16-17 year olds to vote.

I believe that if we were to lower the voting age, only a small amount of young people would take the opportunity to vote.