‘I taught 16-year-olds. Don’t give them the vote’ - Teachers, parents and even many teenagers themselves think the voting age shouldn’t be lowered, yet Labour’s reason for pursuing it is clear
What I’d tell my 16-year-old self is a classic writing exercise. But if Sir Keir Starmer has his way, the answer could soon include, “Don’t vote for that party, you idiot.” The Prime Minister has redoubled his manifesto commitment to reduce the voting age from 18 to 16 this week, telling Parliament’s Liaison Committee: “We will definitely get it done.”
Scotland has allowed 16-year-olds the vote since the referendum of 2014 and Wales did the same in 2021 – however, Westminster governments have been less inclined.
If it happens, roughly 1.5 million voters, or 3 per cent of the voting age population, will join the electoral register – though parents, teachers and politicians are strongly divided on whether or not it’s a good idea to let teens who the law still considers too young to drive, drink or gamble to influence the direction of democracy.
Many argue that 16-year-olds are unlikely to bother voting, with a poll by Ipsos Mori showing that in 2019, the general election turnout was just 47 per cent for 18 to 24-year-olds. By contrast, 74 per cent of over-65s hoofed it to the ballot box. There’s also concern that the Left hopes to manipulate outcomes, as a recent YouGov poll found that 56 per cent of 18 to 25-year-olds voted for Labour in 2024, compared with 32 per cent of the entire population.
Interestingly, young people themselves are not so keen to change the law. A poll for The Student Room, an online community for students, found that 79 per cent of users felt 18 was the right age. Others point out there has been no uprising among teenagers demanding voting rights, and when the public was polled in 2018, only 34 per cent thought 16 and 17-year-olds should have the right to vote.
One compelling argument, however, suggests that even 18 might be too young to make informed, impactful decisions.
“At 16, adolescents are still in the process of cognitive development,” says Elena Touroni, a consultant psychologist and co-founder of Chelsea Psychology Clinic. “By this age, the brain is well developed in areas related to basic reasoning, decision making and social understanding. However, the prefrontal cortex – the part of the brain responsible for impulse control, risk assessment and long-term planning – does not fully mature until the early 20s,” she explains. “This means that while 16-year-olds may be able to form opinions, understand political issues, and make decisions, their ability to evaluate long-term consequences and risks might not be as developed as that of older adults.”.............................................................
