Portsmouth South MP Stephen Morgan has repeated his calls for the voting age to be lowered to 16 following the publication of a report which that found over 1.5 million 16 and 17-year-olds are currently being denied the vote in the UK.
16 year and 17 year olds living in Wales and Scotland can vote in local government elections, yet their counterparts in England and Northern Ireland are denied this right.
16 and 17 year olds are also still denied a vote in General Elections across the UK.
The devolved administrations in Scotland and Wales join Argentina, Austria, Cuba, Ecuador, Guernsey, Indonesia, Isle of Man, Jersey, Malta and Nicaragua in permitting votes at 16.
It was only in 1970 that the voting age was lowered from 21 to 18, allowing teenagers to vote for the first time in the UK. Prevalent then were the same arguments that stop 16- and 17-year-olds voting today.
Earlier this month the British Youth Council and The Body Shop UK & Ireland’s published a new report outlining their vision for empowering all young people across the UK to take part in our democratic system, and lowering the voting age. The Portsmouth South representative spoke at the event in support of their efforts.
Their key recommendations focus on building the confidence of young people in the voting system, and making our democratic system more inclusive and accessible for young voters.
The Member of Parliament for Portsmouth South, Stephen Morgan MP, said:
“Young people aged 16 and 17 in England can be taxpayers, workers, renters, carers and can join the army. But they can’t vote.
“In my job, I meet so many young people who are so engaged in our political system and passionate about changing the world for the better, but until things change they will remain at a democratic disadvantage.
“As they do in Scotland and Wales, young people in Portsmouth and across England deserve to have a voice in democracy and a say in their future.”
The city representative has vowed to continue working with campaign groups and young people to bring about the change.
