Support lowering the voting age; what you can do.
The Assembly will be debating lowering the voting age. If you want to see the voting age lowered and want your voice in the debate, then here are some things you can do.
Green Party MLA Stephen Agnew has proposed the debate saying “The voting age should be reduced to sixteen for all elections and referendums.” His motion calls on the Westminster Government to introduce legislation to accommodate this change.
What you can do:
1 – Log into our website www.wimps.tv and go to the Votes at 16 Campaign Page and “Support This”
2 – Use the Contact Your Politicians webpage app to write to all of your Assembly members. If you are not sure what to say, you could cut and paste the message below.
3 – Talk to your friends and ask them to support the campaign and write to their MLAs.
4 – Visit your MLAs office and ask them to support the motion.
Here’s the letter to the politicians.
Dear [Politician's name],
I am writing to ask you to support WIMPS campaign to lower the voting age to 16.
In the UK, the age of consent is 16. People can marry at 16. They can join the armed forces and pay taxes at 16.
Young people are fellow citizens and we believe they should be consulted on the laws that affect them.
I believe that reducing the voting age would be good for democracy. There is evidence from Europe that young people will participate given the chance. In 1996 in the German city Hanover, for example:
- there was a 56.5% turnout of 16 and 17 year olds.
- 41.1% of the 18 to 24 age group turned out to vote.
I am writing to ask you to support our campaign in the Assembly debate.
You can show your support by signing into the WIMPS campaign page at http://wimps.tv/campaigns/votes-at-16/ and clicking on the “Back This” button.
Thank you
Yours sincerely,
[your name]
No comments:
Post a Comment