Despite frenzied interest in reality-television voting, the UK is demonstrating increasing levels of political apathy, typified by falling turnouts in local and national elections. Turnout is worst among 18- to 24-year-olds and, by denying 16- and 17-year-olds a vote, we are in danger of recreating and exacerbating the sort of political alienation currently being experienced by young adults. It is not difficult to see how a child who engages with society from a young age is more likely to engage with society as an adult.
The Government is now beginning to address such disengagement with a number of proposals for re-energising us as a politically involved nation.
But addressing political apathy is not the only reason to advocate lowering the voting age. With the findings of the Electoral Commission's review How old is old enough? soon to be published, Alex Folkes, campaign manager at Votes at 16, expects a positive outcome: "We trust their recommendation will be to lower the voting age to 16, as every independent review has already concluded. That being true, we see no reason why the Government cannot legislate swiftly to allow 16- and 17-year-olds a real say in politics and society for the first time."
Opponents of lowering the voting age could point to the stereotypical image of a 16-year-old, too busy playing video games to take an informed decision about their vote. And, in some cases, this caricature may be true. But it is not very relevant. The issue should really be about capability to vote - a person disengaged and uninterested in voting at 16 is unlikely to undergo a radical transformation into an enthusiastic voter on their 18th birthday.
South Northamptonshire Youth Council demonstrates children's potential to be successfully engaged in politics. Set up in 1998, the youth council manages an annual bud-get to further the interests and represent the views of young people and the community. Local organisations are invited to submit funding proposals, which the youth council considers, awarding grants as it deems appropriate. As just one of many initiatives, the youth council puts forward nominees to stand for the UK Youth Parliament.
Initiatives such as these play a vital part in re-engaging children with society and show that, given the opportunity, under-18s are capable of contributing to society through the ballot box. Children need to be welcomed, enabled and encouraged into active citizenship. Lowering the voting age to 16 would be a welcome stepping stone towards achieving this goal.
