Should the voting age be lowered to 16?
 

Discuss.

Yes. It annoys me that I can't vote till next year when I personally believe I am in the right frame of mind to be able to make an informed decision. If we can have sex which can result in something as big as teen parenthood why can't we vote?

No. The sprogs can wait ;)

I agree with what Nate said in the Lib Dem thread, there would be some 16 year olds who would be twats and vote BNP and Monster Raving Looney

Yes
Not necessarily to 16, but if you can drive at 17 surely you should be able to vote.

Although in saying that, I probably wouldn't vote anyway, they're all a bunch of arseholes

But saying that it was the Monster Raving Looney Party who originally had the idea to lower it from 21 to 18

Maybe they should provide a short sentence saying why they are voting for that party. Any unreasonable reasons there vote wont be counted.

Or maybe have a test to see how mature they are for voting?

Yes.

16 It should be.

They also suggest the channel tunnel should become a no fly zone and chocolate should be available on prescription...these guys arent a serious party

nah, i think it should be left at 18.

Wise words Stacey :)

The Chunnel already is a no fly zone :tongue:

I know they aren't a serious party, but they do have a couple of ideas which are good.
But thats all: A couple

I very much doubt [under the current system at least] a selection of twatty kids voting for a joke party, would make much difference.

Personally, I find it illogical that some politicians are trying to grasp the attention of young people, yet are against decreasing the voting age.

You could have a short corse GCSE in Politics introduced into schools. At the time of recieving your offical results in august most students are aged 16 then.

Maybe that should be the way forward?

Rubbish. The Monster Raving Loony Party was formed in 1983 by Screaming Lord Sutch (David Sutch - rock musician)

Voting was lowered from 21 to 18 in 1969. Although Lord Sutch under of the banner of The National Teenage party stood against Harold Wilson in Huyton, Lancashire In 1966. Campaigning for legalisation of commerical radio and legalisation of 18 year olds to vote. Lowering the voting age was also mentioned in the Labour Manifesto. Incidentally he didnt get elected.

Believe it or not it was lowered by the Labour Party for the same reasons that they bandied about lowering it to 16. Because they anticipated that 18-21 year olds were more likely to be left wing. In other words re-elect them. Its good to be a pawn isnt it?

When you realise its not about giving you more rights or trusting you its simply about making sure Labour get more votes, then you will be promoted.

So no. I think its wrong to manipulate teenagers






Its good to be the king.

No.

No. Stupid idea. Kids are morons. Hell, most people are morons and should not be allowed to vote.

Yes. I haven't heard a good argument against it being lowered

Yes - I really wanted to vote this year

my mum even says she doesn't know much about it, and she's 45. :laugh:

well that's her own fault lol.

i know, but she ain't really interested - and just votes for what my dad says to vote for.
so i think 16 is too young for some really.

I think they should.

What's the age restriction on the XFactor?

16. It was 14 for two years though, iirc.

Emmeline Pankhurst would be proud.

And keep it at eighteen I say.

I rest my case.

If it was lowered, I bet you'd get a massive rise in BNP votes.

Why, not all teenagers are racist? I don't think I am at all.

Keep it at 18. There's enough moronic 18 year olds and older who've got the right, I'd rather there weren't more.

Nah, but alot of them are rebels without a cause.

People from large estates are easily brainwashed by the BNP, especially the younger ones.

That is sad.

As I said maybe they should pass a exam to be allowed to vote. And that exam is optional.

That would infringe the rights of numpties who cant pass exams or string a sentence together properly, why should they be disadvantaged.

But the exams would prove that they are sensible and can make the right choices. If they are smart enough to pass a exam then they are smart enought to vote.

Just a idea though.

Being 16 myself, I'd say yes. But, I don't think I'd trust about 80% of the rest of the people in my year to make an informed decision... and I won't even spend time thinking they may be able to... there is no way! They wouldn't even be bothered to watch the election things on the TV or read the stuff in papers xx

So if they lowered the voting age to 16, and then insisted on an exam to pass, wouldnt those who failed be able to claim that they were being discriminated against on the grounds of their stupidity. Couldnt they also ask for the exam to be extended to all voters in order to be fair.

Lets face it I know some over 18's who would fail that sort of exam. Stupidity doesnt just disappear on your 18th birthday.

We did Mock Election at school. i dont really under but i voted for Monster something as my friends did. It went.
1 Monster
2 Liberal Conservatives
3 BNP
there were 5 persisions i just cant remember others

Was it the Monster Raving Loony party?

And we did the same, Liberal Democrats was the clear winner for us.