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29/01/2018
Call For Voting Age To Be 16
The Alliance Party is calling for the voting age to be changed to 16 years old.
MLA Stewart Dickson made the call after the Welsh Government said it would like to do similar.
Welsh Cabinet Secretary Alun Davies said any changes would be in place for Welsh Council elections in 2022.
Scotland lowered its voting age to 16 for the independence referendum and local government elections in 2014.
Mr Dickson said: "Young people at 16 are old enough to work, join the armed forces and pay taxes. Therefore, it naturally follows they have should have a right to say how those taxes are spent and who makes those other key decisions. If you pay taxes, you deserve representation.
"By reducing the voting age to 16 we can also encourage more young people to take an interest in politics and get involved in the democratic process while still in education. Giving a new generation a voice can only be a benefit to local politics."
(CD)
MLA Stewart Dickson made the call after the Welsh Government said it would like to do similar.
Welsh Cabinet Secretary Alun Davies said any changes would be in place for Welsh Council elections in 2022.
Scotland lowered its voting age to 16 for the independence referendum and local government elections in 2014.
Mr Dickson said: "Young people at 16 are old enough to work, join the armed forces and pay taxes. Therefore, it naturally follows they have should have a right to say how those taxes are spent and who makes those other key decisions. If you pay taxes, you deserve representation.
"By reducing the voting age to 16 we can also encourage more young people to take an interest in politics and get involved in the democratic process while still in education. Giving a new generation a voice can only be a benefit to local politics."
(CD)
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