Trial shows votes at 16 is a verdict to support
Derren Hayes
Tuesday, November 26, 2019
I undertook jury service at the Old Bailey earlier this year. The case I adjudicated on was not a conventional trial, but deciding if the country is ready to lower the voting age to 16 for all UK elections.
I, along with 11 other jurors from the sector, were taking part in a specially arranged event to hear the arguments for and against votes at 16. After weighing up expert evidence – clearly presented and clinically cross-examined by young people on the prosecution and defence teams – the jury returned a majority decision in favour.
Sadly, our verdict has not resulted in 16- and 17-year-olds being able to have their say in the coming general election, despite support for this from MPs across the political divide.
The arguments for the change are well known: if, by the age of 16, you are able to work and pay taxes, join the armed forces and have sexual relations, then you should have the right to vote (see Opinion).
The arguments against votes at 16 centre on whether young people are sufficiently independent of means and mind to be trusted with such responsibility. Neither hold much water in light of societal trends. There are now record numbers of 20- to 34-year-olds living in their parents’ homes due to being shut out of the housing market. Should this lack of independence make them ineligible to vote?
Thanks to social media, this generation of young people are more prepared to speak their mind than any previously. They are unafraid to challenge authority and convention, are expert organisers and will take direct action to get their voices heard (see Analysis).
An argument for deferral of votes at 16 – rather than against it altogether – is for its introduction to be dependent on improving the quality of citizenship education. The fact millions of school children have taken part in this year’s climate protests shows they are all too aware of their responsibilities as citizens – not to mention how to get the attention of the media and policymakers.
There is much debate about the broken social contract between young people and older generations. What better way for an incoming government to start mending that than to phase in the introduction of votes at 16, starting with local and London Mayoral elections in 2020, and ensuring this is the last general election where you have to be 18 to vote.
