There is a mixed reaction in Britain For the government’s announcement that it will increase the age of voting before the next national election.
Workers The administration says that it is part of a package of changes to strengthen British democracy and help rest trust in politics. The opposition says that it is a power-gerb on the left side.
Experts Say that it is complicated, with mixed evidence how to reduce the age of voting affects democracy and election results.
The biggest change since the 1960s
The UK’s voting era fell last time in 1969, when the UK became one of the first major democracy to reduce it from 21 to 18. Several other countries including the United States followed the suit within a few years.
Now the government says that it will reduce the threshold till the time of the next general election, until it is likely to be in 2029. It will bring the entire country with Scotland and Wales, which has semi-economic governments and will already let the 16- and 17-year-old children vote in local and regional elections.
A handful of other countries currently include Austria, Brazil and Ecuador at the age of 16. Some European Union countries, including Belgium, Germany and Malta, allow 16 -year -old children to vote in elections.
Case for votes at 16
Supporters argue that 16 -year -old children can work in Britain and pay taxes, so they should be allowed to vote.
“If you pay, you should have the opportunity to say what you want to spend your money,” Prime Minister Kir Stamor Said.
Anti -democracy organizations welcomed the lower age, and a step towards automated voter registration, saying that it would help raise polling rates. Voting in 2024 elections was 59.7%, the lowest level of more than two decades.
Age change is part of a package of electoral reforms that include tightening the funding rules of the campaign and comprehension of the limit of documents that can be used as a identification at polling stations.
Supporters argue that it will increase democratic participation by putting teenagers in a habit of voting at one time when most are still in school.
“Young people who are in full -time education and often live at home can create better, more busy than 18 to 20 years of children, who often experience their first choice in the highly fleeting phase of their life,” a social scientist of Shefield University who has studied young voting, has written in Guardians.
Critic calls it a freak trick
Opponents argue that 16- and 17-year-old children should not be voted as in most ways they are not considered an adult.
“Why does this government wonder that a 16 -year -old child can vote, but cannot be allowed to buy lottery tickets, an alcoholic beverage, marriage, or going to war, or even standing in elections?” Orthodox MP Paul Holmes asked at the House of Commons on Thursday.
Mark Goodwin, a senior lecturer in politics at Coventry University, agreed that the step could seem contradictory, because “socially, if anything, we are moving in the opposite direction.”
He said, “The age of the majority increases, the age in which you become fully capable and responsible adults, he is moving towards 18,” he said.
The government’s political opponents argue that Labor is expected to benefit from 1.5 million new potential young voters who usually lend to the left.
Nigel FarajThe Hard-Right Party Reform UK leader said the labor was trying to “rig” the system. Former Foreign Secretary James cleverly stated that the government has announced a condemnant change as it is “tanking in elections”.
Labor youth cannot take votes
Experts say that 16– and 17-year-old children are unlikely to change the election results dramatically, as they are a relatively small group with diverse ideas. And it is clear that labor will receive most of the benefits of a large young vote.
Britain’s politics, labor and conservatives have long been dominated, rapidly dismissing. Voting suggests that young voters bow down, but they are divided between several parties including Labor, The Greens and Liberal Democrats. Faraj of Tikokok has built his brand with youth, and has some support among young men in improvement.
Gudwin said that in many parts of the world, “Young people are leaving the center-left.
“And in many cases, they are lending their support to parties of populist rights, or challenger parties, external aspects, independent, more alternative parties,” he said.
“If it is a diarrhea move to get more labor votes, it is certainly an element of risk where those votes will eventually be cast.”