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.

Therefore though lowering the voting age would allow young people’s voice to be heard, it is unlikely that it would have much of an impact on our lives.

Janan is blogging on behalf of Kids Count, a think-tank focused on the practical rather than the theoretical. Find out more at www.kidscount.org.uk