In its Lowering the Voting Age to 16 report, the youth select committee claims that 16- and 17-year-olds are more likely to vote than 18- to 25-year-olds because their lives are more stable.
The report states that many 16- and 17-year-olds live at home with their parents and face “less upheaval” than young adults, a group that has a historically low turnout at elections.
It also suggests that a lower voting age would create a “permanent change in our political culture” by getting young people into the habit of voting before they turn 18.
However, the report says the move would have to be supported with political education in schools to help young people understand why it is important to use their vote and how to do so with confidence.
It states: “This should be a fundamental and compulsory part of all young people’s education and should include information about how to vote, how to register to vote, how to contact elected politicians, information on different types of elections and, crucially, the different positions of political parties.”
Michael Hope, chair of the committee, which is made up of 11 young people aged 11 to 18, said the report shows that there would be benefits to lowering the voting age.
He said: “Not only would it improve political engagement among younger people, but could reinvigorate a national apathy towards politics.
“Our recommendations are clear, however, lowering the voting age brings with it a responsibility to educate and motivate young people about the importance of participating in our democracy.”
The Labour and Liberal Democrat parties have already pledged to lower the voting age to 16, but in September former children’s minister Tim Loughton said a similar promise is unlikely to feature in the Conservative Party’s election manifesto.
