Discover and read the best of Twitter Threads about #VotesAt16

Most recents (7)

What's been the long-term impact of #VotesAt16 in Scotland? @c_huebner and I answer this question in a new study. Key message: There's a positive impact on turnout - but more to be done on inequality
Read the report: sps.ed.ac.uk/votes-at-16-in… 1/8 @d_part @shefmethods @uoessps
Crucially, we found that amongst young Scots (16-31), those whose first vote was at 16/17, more turned out in the #SP21 #Holyrood elections than those who could only vote at 18. This effect is robust to including controls and also if we only look at 18-31-year olds. 2/8
In short: there's been a positive lasting effect on youth turnout from #VotesAt16, breaking the usual pattern of turnout decline in the early 20s. However, we see no difference in non-electoral engagement between those who could vote at 16 or 18.
3/8
Read 8 tweets
A generation who voted for a Brexit that's trashing the economy, Northern Irish Peace & UK unity and enabled a government that caused the worst (OECD) recession and excess death rate in Europe...

Has THE NERVE to tell 16-yr-olds they're not responsible enough to vote!
#VotesAt16
Tell me how 16-year-olds could have possibly done any worse...

HOW?!?
#votesat16
Explain to me why this 16-year-old didn't deserve to vote in the last election...

#votesat16 @GottgensJess
Read 5 tweets
#GeneralElection2019 is here! And our Fellows continue to consider what the election outcomes might hold for #UK territorial and constitutional future ⬇
CCC Fellow @Coree_Brown @TheScotsman analysing @theSNP success in #GeneralElection2019 and the likelihood of #IndyRef2 following the result.

scotsman.com/news/politics/…
Read @Coree_Brown @UKandEU blog referenced @TheScotsman 'The 'other Union': Indyref2 and the future of the UK'

centreonconstitutionalchange.ac.uk/news-and-opini…
Read 6 tweets
Calls for #Votesat16 in all UK elections are widely seen as trendy and progressive. But their arguments are seriously flawed. Extending the franchise without proper debate and preparation would actually be deeply undemocratic... (1/11)
Most 16-year olds are still children living at home and going to school. There is enough pressure on them already. Just imagine the online barrage of political advertising they would face. Their votes are also more likely to be susceptible to influence by their parents. (2/11)
Advocates of lowering the voting age often say that 16 is the age at which you can marry or join the army. But at this age you would still require the consent of your parents or guardians (at least in England), and would not be eligible to serve in combat roles. (3/11)
Read 11 tweets
Tory MP recently said we can't have #VotesAt16 in the next referendum as it'd be unfair and would skew the result towards Remain.
You **** Joking?

1⃣ It can't be undemocratic to give more people a say
2⃣ Denying people a vote because of HOW they'll vote is INSANELY UNDEMOCRATIC!
The worst thing... He said this in front of a class of 16-18 year olds!
I was stood behind him when he said "because they'll all vote Remain", and the pupils all saw my reaction and laughed.
I basically threw my hands up in a shrug 🤷🏿‍♂️ as if to say:
Just try and tell me this girl who was 16 at the time shouldn't have had a right to vote. I've met hundreds of adults in their 50s who are less politically aware than @GottgensJess was back then.

Read 3 tweets
1/ OK, this is off piste for a Brussels hack but I see #VotesAt16 has come up again. As ever, nobody has really thought this through.
2/ Our society is designed so you become an adult at 18. This isn’t just a symbolic moment - adulthood comes with tangible rights and responsibilities.
3/ The most precious in both those categories is voting. And voting must only be open to those who have assumed their full responsibilities to society.
Read 14 tweets
#VotesAt16 relies on flawed logic that 16 year olds have equal rights as adults in a range of policy areas – this is simply untrue
Without parental consent, 16 year olds are unable to join the army and in England and Wales they cannot get married
The Sexual Consent Act 2003 makes a distinction between 16 and 18 year olds in regards to consent with a person in a position of trust
Read 5 tweets

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