16 and 17 year olds will be allowed to vote

Votes at 16 in the Scottish Referendum – our 

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October 10, 2012 - 2:32 pm from voteat16.org

It’s been announced today that 16 and 17 year olds will be allowed to vote in the Referendum on Scottish Indepedence, subject to approval by Prime Minister David Cameron and Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond in ‘the next few days’.

Votes at 16 campaigner, and British Youth Coucil Trustee, Marc Kidson (24) had this to say about the announcement:

“This is a really encouraging development and one that we at the Votes at 16 Coalition support wholeheartedly. We really hope that David Cameron and Alex Salmon do the right thing and allow 16 and 17 year olds in Scotland the right to have a say in such an important decision that will make a big difference to their futures.

However, while this would be a step in the right direction, the Coalition believes that all 16 and 17 year olds should be given the vote in all public elections and referendums in the UK. At the age of 16, young people are legally allowed to leave school and enter work or training, consent to sexual relationships, get married or enter a civil partnership and join the armed forces. We believe that giving 16 and 17 year olds the right to vote in all public elections and referendums is the logical next step.”