Should voting age be lowered to 16?

[AllThingsTech]

Should the voting age be lowered to 16? I’m keen to hear your thoughts given the controversy and there’s no clear-cut answer to this

Imo, a policy change has its pros and cons. Given the aging population, I feel like lowering the voting age would result in a more democratic out ome for future generations. Although terms are reasonably short, once laws are passed they are not easily reversed without instability and protests!

However, there’s a question as to the maturity of a 16 year old. This is the age at which they begin to consider their career choices, so I feel like some political awareness is important. However, there’s a risk of them being pressured to vote in favour of family values. Of course while this is a possibility regardless of age especially where one is oblivious to political matters, imo there’s the awkward situation of a 16 year old being legally considered a minor and so potentially less freedom to make their own decisions and being forced to vote for a party they don’t personally support.

Thoughts?

 

[Retro]

A 16 year old can legally have sex which is a much bigger responsibility than voting, but the issue of enormous peer and family pressure is significant, so dunno.

 

[AllThingsTech]

A 16 year old can legally have sex which is a much bigger responsibility than voting, but the issue of enormous peer and family pressure is significant, so dunno.

Yeah that’s true - what’re your thoughts on that? Would you call that too young to be having sex? Personally, i feel like we all mature at different ages tbf

 

[Retro]

Perhaps it should be raised to 18 like in America?

 

[AllThingsTech]

Perhaps it should be raised to 18 like in America?

Sure, I feel like as well as it distracting from their studies, teens at that age can be impulsive in trusting those who play mind games or are dishonest, due to a lack of life experience, about things like STDs and what not.

 

[AllThingsTech]

UPDATE: Voting age has been lowered to 16 in the UK.
Well, it’s finally happened!

UK youth celebrate voting rights but urge caution

Sixteen- and 17-year-olds celebrated their newly granted right to vote in all UK elections on Thursday, but cautioned that proper education was vital to boost turnout and protect young voters from political misinformation on social media.

www.reuters.com

Just concerned that this has been done for the right reasons given that Labour tend to win votes from younger votes. Have they essentially just passed a policy that benefits them?

On the other hand, why not balance out the demographics given the aging population?

At age 16, one can join the army with parental consent. At 16, one can legally get married and have sexual intercourse. However, it’s only at 18 that one can drink. So I feel like in some respects both ages are appropriate as a minimum legal requirement.

And as I said, I feel like while political awareness different at any age, there has to be some kinda limit. The primary risk I’d say lowering the voting age to 16 has is the risk of parents imposing their voting preference in their kids, and given they’re still a minor the parent can threaten to ground them. Imo it’s essential that a further law is passed to prohibit undue pressure on 16 and 17-year-olds to vote according to their parents? How can this be proven? How would this be enforced? These are all legitimate questions imo.