If the united states is any indication of who should be allowed to vote age has absolutely nothing to do with it.
Probably the same everywhere.

Never mind age, there should be a basic test before anyone is allowed to vote. Just a few simple questions to ensure people have an understanding of what they are actually doing and why as it is quite apparent many don't have a clue.

comment by Cinciwolf-----JA606 NFL fantasy champ 2023 (U11551)
posted 34 seconds ago
Never mind age, there should be a basic test before anyone is allowed to vote. Just a few simple questions to ensure people have an understanding of what they are actually doing and why as it is quite apparent many don't have a clue.
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trump wouldn't receive a single vote then.

comment by Ali - 🇪🇦 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 (U1192)
posted 14 minutes ago
To answer the OP. Babies should be given a vote too.
What 16 year old gives a shiiit or has any idea about politics. 99% of them, their vote would be BS or they would be voting what their parents want them to vote anyway.
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Agree with this. I've been reading a Facebook discussion on this subject today and there are plenty on there saying how they would tell their children who to vote for.

comment by montleeds (U18330)
posted 41 seconds ago
comment by Cinciwolf-----JA606 NFL fantasy champ 2023 (U11551)
posted 34 seconds ago
Never mind age, there should be a basic test before anyone is allowed to vote. Just a few simple questions to ensure people have an understanding of what they are actually doing and why as it is quite apparent many don't have a clue.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
trump wouldn't receive a single vote then.
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Exactly. Trump wouldn't be in power and Brexit would not have happened

I think this thread has lost it's way a bit

If you stop boomers from driving then you also get rid of love island turkey teeth car sales priiicks who earn living off tricking old people. Win, win

who here has a 15 or 16 year old boy......while they may have all their faculties, the majority will not give 2 5hits about politics. Ask them who the Chancellor is most wont have an idea, and people think its a good idea to give these youths the opportunity to vote on complicated issues. A lot of adults have no idea.

This seems to be a desperate attempt to shore up Labours vote, hoping that the next generation will be less immigration obsessed, less knowledgeable or engaged in the economy and im sure we'll see a range of 'kid friendly' policies coming forward to catch their attention. Jeez, just offer to legalise weed and you'll guarantee a big chunk of the 16yo voters

comment by Robbing Hoody (U6374)
posted 9 minutes ago
Apologies btw Elvis, I’m just a traffic guy today
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Sold out to Admin1. Tut tut.

comment by Emile Matthew Yaw Nyamedom Acquah (U1734)
posted 2 minutes ago
If you stop boomers from driving then you also get rid of love island turkey teeth car sales priiicks who earn living off tricking old people. Win, win
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comment by Devonshirespur (U6316)
posted 2 minutes ago
who here has a 15 or 16 year old boy......while they may have all their faculties, the majority will not give 2 5hits about politics. Ask them who the Chancellor is most wont have an idea, and people think its a good idea to give these youths the opportunity to vote on complicated issues. A lot of adults have no idea.

This seems to be a desperate attempt to shore up Labours vote, hoping that the next generation will be less immigration obsessed, less knowledgeable or engaged in the economy and im sure we'll see a range of 'kid friendly' policies coming forward to catch their attention. Jeez, just offer to legalise weed and you'll guarantee a big chunk of the 16yo voters
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How many of us has/had a 90+ year old parent/grandparent? Apply the same logic.

comment by montleeds (U18330)
posted 10 minutes ago
If the united states is any indication of who should be allowed to vote age has absolutely nothing to do with it.
Probably the same everywhere.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Why would we use America’s elections when we have our own statistics that give an indication of voting patterns based on age?

Just to note for one 16 year old there are 2 parents in their 60s higher up the family tree.

If there isn't a maximum to be implemented then there should definitely reduce the voting to 1 parent per child to even the voting demographic.

comment by Michael Edwards FC 2.0 loading…I am your Premier League Champion (U2720)
posted 3 minutes ago
Just to note for one 16 year old there are 2 parents in their 60s higher up the family tree.

If there isn't a maximum to be implemented then there should definitely reduce the voting to 1 parent per child to even the voting demographic.
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Not sure that’s right as most in their 60s now wouldn’t have had children that late in life.

And if they did the children likely have downs, which means they’ll be voting Tory eventually regardless of whether they can vote at 16 or not.

And if they did the children likely have downs, which means they’ll be voting Tory eventually regardless of whether they can vote at 16 or not.
——————-

Fit a bit of tea on my screen there!

I should've said parents/grandparents

comment by Emile Matthew Yaw Nyamedom Acquah (U1734)
posted 9 minutes ago
comment by Devonshirespur (U6316)
posted 2 minutes ago
who here has a 15 or 16 year old boy......while they may have all their faculties, the majority will not give 2 5hits about politics. Ask them who the Chancellor is most wont have an idea, and people think its a good idea to give these youths the opportunity to vote on complicated issues. A lot of adults have no idea.

This seems to be a desperate attempt to shore up Labours vote, hoping that the next generation will be less immigration obsessed, less knowledgeable or engaged in the economy and im sure we'll see a range of 'kid friendly' policies coming forward to catch their attention. Jeez, just offer to legalise weed and you'll guarantee a big chunk of the 16yo voters
----------------------------------------------------------------------
How many of us has/had a 90+ year old parent/grandparent? Apply the same logic.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

from the 2021 census, there are approx.as many 16 + 17 year olds as there are OAPs over 85.

I would rather end the right to vote at 85 than add kids to it.

You are choosing between wisdom tainted with too much nostalgia, and ignorance sprinkled with naivety

comment by Devonshirespur (U6316)
posted 6 minutes ago
who here has a 15 or 16 year old boy......while they may have all their faculties, the majority will not give 2 5hits about politics. Ask them who the Chancellor is most wont have an idea, and people think its a good idea to give these youths the opportunity to vote on complicated issues. A lot of adults have no idea.

This seems to be a desperate attempt to shore up Labours vote, hoping that the next generation will be less immigration obsessed, less knowledgeable or engaged in the economy and im sure we'll see a range of 'kid friendly' policies coming forward to catch their attention. Jeez, just offer to legalise weed and you'll guarantee a big chunk of the 16yo voters
----------------------------------------------------------------------

My kids at 16 were far more politically sophisticated than my elderly parents. That's obviously anecdotal. However, if you believe there's a massive difference in political knowledge and wisdom, I believe you're rather undervaluing the younger generation and overstating how deeply informed older demographics are. There are plenty of studies that demonstrate how badly the public as a whole understands the spectrum of policy areas and the basic facts underpinning them. And the offensively infantile and dishonest level of political discourse we see across the leadership of Labour, the Tories and Reform (in a status quo where all are incentivised to appeal to older demographics) makes me very suspicious of appeals to leave politics to the people who have lived a bit.

PS a logical hole in your argument: you seem to believe that enough kids who 'do not give 2 5hits about politics' will, despite their apathy, vote in sufficient numbers and coordination to swing the outcome of an election.

I've been saying this for years, good to see other people catching on.

My idea has always been that it should be reciprocal - you can't vote for the first 16 years of your life, therefore you can't vote for the last 16 years of your life. So take whatever the life expectancy is, subtract 16 and that's your voting age cut-off.

Want to be able to vote when you're older? Do as much as you can to improve the health of society, it'll increase the life expectancy and you can vote.

Too old to vote? Bad luck, should have made society better when you could.

Oh and before anyone thinks of voting Reform, I am from the era of being born just after World War Ii, when all the far right and facist parties left Europe in a pile of rubble. Please let's not go there again.

comment by Robbing Hoody (U6374)
posted 9 minutes ago
And if they did the children likely have downs, which means they’ll be voting Tory eventually regardless of whether they can vote at 16 or not.
——————-

Fit a bit of tea on my screen there!
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It should be 18

comment by Drunken Hobo (U7360)
posted 11 minutes ago
I've been saying this for years, good to see other people catching on.

My idea has always been that it should be reciprocal - you can't vote for the first 16 years of your life, therefore you can't vote for the last 16 years of your life. So take whatever the life expectancy is, subtract 16 and that's your voting age cut-off.

Want to be able to vote when you're older? Do as much as you can to improve the health of society, it'll increase the life expectancy and you can vote.

Too old to vote? Bad luck, should have made society better when you could.
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See my earlier comment. Although you referred to it as life expectancy instead of my catchier Expected Death (xD).

Instead of it being 16 years either way, research needs to be done to determine at what age you revert to being less clued up than a 16 year old, on average. So if 85 is the equivalent of a 16 year old, then stop 86+ from voting. Only fair.

I am happy to conduct the research.

Comment deleted by Article Creator

comment by Devonshirespur (U6316)
posted 21 minutes ago
comment by Emile Matthew Yaw Nyamedom Acquah (U1734)
posted 9 minutes ago
comment by Devonshirespur (U6316)
posted 2 minutes ago
who here has a 15 or 16 year old boy......while they may have all their faculties, the majority will not give 2 5hits about politics. Ask them who the Chancellor is most wont have an idea, and people think its a good idea to give these youths the opportunity to vote on complicated issues. A lot of adults have no idea.

This seems to be a desperate attempt to shore up Labours vote, hoping that the next generation will be less immigration obsessed, less knowledgeable or engaged in the economy and im sure we'll see a range of 'kid friendly' policies coming forward to catch their attention. Jeez, just offer to legalise weed and you'll guarantee a big chunk of the 16yo voters
----------------------------------------------------------------------
How many of us has/had a 90+ year old parent/grandparent? Apply the same logic.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

from the 2021 census, there are approx.as many 16 + 17 year olds as there are OAPs over 85.

I would rather end the right to vote at 85 than add kids to it.

You are choosing between wisdom tainted with too much nostalgia, and ignorance sprinkled with naivety
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Good solution then, under 16s don't vote. Over 85s don't vote. We agree. Close the thread. 16 year olds can get married FFS. 85 year olds can't even eat food without it being mushed up, like infants.