News / MP wants votes at 16
NORTHERN Isles MP Alistair Carmichael is calling for the national voting age to be lowered from 18 to 16, citing the “energy and enthusiasm” of young people during the independence referendum.
The commitment has been Liberal Democrat policy for many years, and after more than 100,000 under 18s registered to vote in the referendum, Carmichael renewed his call for votes at 16 to become the norm at future elections.
“The energy and enthusiasm of young people in the referendum campaign is something of which Scotland should be proud,” he said.
“I have always believed that young people are much more politically engaged than they are given credit for.”
He said 15 year old Jack Norquoy, from Birsay, was one of the most active volunteers in Better Together’s Orkney campaign. He spoke at a packed meeting in Kirkwall Town Hall alongside Shirley Williams, making a “powerful and compelling case for what he believed in, Carmichael said.
“Our young voters were given the opportunity and seized it with both hands. I believe that it is now only a matter of time until we see votes at 16 rolled out across the UK. That time should be now.”
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