By Isle of Wight Observer
A question on Facebook about the Government’s proposal to lower the voting age to 16 for the next general election showed there was support both for and against the proposal among Islanders, with the majority expressing opposition. While some view it as a progressive step toward greater democracy, many question whether 16- and 17-year-olds are mature enough to make informed political decisions?
Supporters of the proposal, like Green Party candidate, Vix Lowthion, argue that excluding younger voters is discriminatory. “Shouldn’t all voters be informed? Why would some voters be excluded just based on age? There’s a word for that,” she commented.
Similarly, Ieuan Jehu welcomed the idea, stating, “More democracy is always a good thing,” and expressed hope that it would empower young people to influence policies that directly affect their futures. Vanessa Booth also defended the younger generation, arguing, “Future generations are paying the price for the last 20 years’ mistakes, so why shouldn’t they have a say?”
However, the majority of commenters raised concerns about the readiness of 16-year-olds to vote. Jan Taylor questioned their maturity, stating, “At 16 they can’t drink, drive, or gamble, yet they’re considered old enough to vote? Many of them don’t even know what gender they are, let alone who to vote for.” Alan Bartlett echoed this sentiment, asking, “If they can’t buy alcohol or lottery tickets, why should they be allowed to vote?” Others, like Greg Hailes, suggested the move was politically motivated, claiming, “Students are steered towards the left in school, so it’s a good time to catch them before they hit the real world.”
Some commenters proposed solutions to better prepare young voters. Kevin Barclay-Jay suggested, “Politics should be a class in school,” while Victoria Perrett called for compulsory education on the British constitution and political systems. Others questioned the entire political establishment like Kev Pricey, who said, “Don’t bother voting as they are all bloodsucking, useless, liars.”
Keep an eye on the IW Observer’s Facebook page for questions about important issues.
