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News Release
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In evidence to the Electoral Commission's review of the minimum voting and candidature age, the Local Government Information Unit (LGIU) has argued for reducing the voting age to 16, and for 18 year olds to be allowed to stand for election.
Proposals for an extension of voting and candidacy rights form a key strand of the LGIU's current Perilous Democracy campaign for a programme of reforms that would encourage more people to get involved in local politics and public service.
In a closely argued submission, the LGIU's grounds for supporting reducing the voting and candidacy ages were summarised as:
1. Equality of expression
Not letting 16 and 17 year olds express their political views through the ballot box gives the impression that their views are not valid, despite their many contributions to work, home and community life.
2. Consistency
There is a great inconsistency about the age at which a person can vote (18), compared with the age at which young people can leave school, work full time, pay taxes, leave home, get married, join the armed forces and receive social security benefits (all 16).
3. Citizenship
With the introduction into the national curriculum of citizenship education from the ages of 5-16, at 16 a person will have the ability to make an informed choice in an election.
4. Moral right
Young people are affected by the decisions taken by politicians so they should be allowed to have a say in the decisions taken. No taxation without representation?
5. Raising turnout
When 16 and 17 year-olds were given the vote in Germany their turnout was higher than those in the 18-35 age group.
6. Increasing the pool of candidates
Young people are interested in political issues. At 18 they have the enthusiasm to take on a representational role.
7. Modernising the legislation
The age of candidacy has not been amended since 1695, since then society has changed enormously - the candidacy age should be brought up to date.
Dennis Reed, Chief Executive of the LGIU, said: "Most in the local government community regard extending the franchise to 16 year olds as an act of democratic modernisation whose time has come. It is also one of the reforms needed to encourage more people to stand for public office and, indeed, to vote.
"Although I have listened keenly all year, since the Votes at 16 campaign got underway, I have yet to hear a single convincing or articulate argument against votes at 16 and candidature at 18."
ENDS
For further information contact:
Kevin Morton Tel. 020 7554 2858; Mobile 07958 314846; E mail kevin.morton@lgiu.org.uk
Mary Wimbury Tel. 020 7554 2845; Mobile 07958 521344; E mail mary.wimbury@lgiu.org.uk
Notes to Editors
1. The Local Government Information Unit (LGIU) is Britain's foremost independent local democracy think tank, campaigning to extend local authority best practice, freedoms and responsibilities. Recent initiatives have included the Commission on Local Governance and the LGIU is working to influence the debate on local government modernisation. The LGIU and its sister organisations The Education Network (TEN) and the Democratic Health Network (DHN) and provide research, policy briefings, information, advice, training and lobbying services to local authority and trade union affiliates. Previous LGIU news releases and statements can be viewed at www.lgiu.gov.uk
2. For a full copy of the LGIU's submission to the Electoral Commission review of the voting age, please contact Kevin Morton on 020 7554 2858 or at Kevin.morton@lgiu.org.uk.
3. For further information on the work of the Electoral Commission and its review of the voting age, go to http://www.electoralcommission.gov.uk.
4. The main measures that the LGIU is advocating in its Perilous Democracy campaign include:
* Paid time off for public duties, including full-time public service responsibilities, with the employer compensated for staff undertaking public service and the employee retaining certain employment rights.
* New grants and tax incentives to encourage employers to support any of their staff who undertake public service, as part of their corporate social responsibility programmes.
* All councillors entitled to make pension contributions in the local government pension scheme, or to a comparable alternative of their choice.
* There should be a requirement for local authorities to reimburse councillors for childcare and other caring responsibilities.
* There should be 'councillor development grants' for parish and town councils to develop the potential of elected members.
* Councils should be able to apply for a 'public service promotion grant' to enable them to encourage people to undertake a wide range of public service roles.
* The voting age should be reduced to 16 and the age of candidature to 18.
* Restrictions preventing local government employees from participating in political activities should be amended to only apply to designated senior local government officers.
* There should be a system of academic and vocational accreditation linked to experience and training to recognise the skills gained as a councillor.