Blogs and news about lowering the voting age to 16.

UK Youth Parliament campaign to empower 1.5 million young voters.

UK Youth Parliament has commenced their campaign to ensure all 1.5 million 16 and 17-year-olds can vote in elections. The aim of the year-long campaign is to build on the increasing support for a lower voting age of 16 in all elections and referenda. Today’s National Day of Action will see Members of Youth Parliament

Reflecting on another year of #youthvoice

What a year 2016 had been for everyone. We have had enough elections, referendums and political bombshells to last us a few years. But… this is only the start. Amidst all of the political and economic uncertainty, I am proud to say that young people across the world and in the UK have been a

Continuing the conversation on votes at 16 and a curriculum for life

As a Member of Youth Parliament, I have the privilege of representing the views of young people and communicating them to visionaries and influencers. Following the Youth Parliament’s recent debates in the House of Commons, Tofumni, Oscar and myself, as Members of Youth Parliament, were invited to meet with David Lidington, Leader of the House

UK Youth Parliament calls for Votes at 16 in the House of Commons Chamber

276 elected Members of Youth Parliament (aged 11-18) debated the top issues affecting young people across the country today, live in the House of Commons Chamber. Chaired by the Speaker of the House of Commons, Rt Hon John Bercow MP, Members of Youth Parliament voted to campaign on votes at 16 and a curriculum for

British Youth Council: “Vote for Youth on the 23rd!”

The British Youth Council today called for all 18-25 years to turnout and vote for youth, especially the undecided, to vote on behalf of those under eighteen who want to vote but cannot. Jon Foster, Chair, British Youth Council said  “All our voices need to be heard, and all year round, not just in and

16 year olds vote in Scotland but not in the rest of UK

British Youth Council calls for equal voting rights at 16 in UK. Young people aged 16 and 17 year olds will vote in Scottish Parliamentary elections and Scottish Local Council elections for the first time today (Thursday 5th May 2016).  The British Youth Council and Votes at 16 Coalition are celebrating the historical moment as

British Youth Council prioritises Mental health, Votes at 16 and Youth Services for 2016 campaigns

British Youth Council members have chosen to prioritise mental health, votes at 16, and youth services as campaigns for 2016. During each year-long campaign, we’ll be building on the successes of our current mental health campaign, refreshing our campaign effort to save youth services across the country and reminding the Government why we think it’s

1.5 million young people blocked from voting in the EU Referendum

The British Youth Council and Votes at 16 Coalition are disappointed to see the Government have blocked the Lords proposal to include 16 and 17 year olds a vote in the “In Out” EU Referendum due to be taken in 2017. The block comes after a sustained campaign calling on the Government to follow the

A win for votes at 16 in the EU Referendum

Votes at 16 in the EU referendum is now one step closer following a vote in the House of Lords, where 293 Lords voted in favour of an amendment to extend the franchise in the EU Referendum Bill. The Votes at 16 Coalition will now turn its focus back on the House of Commons as

16 and 17-year-olds to vote in all future Holyrood elections and Scottish Council elections

Members of Scottish Parliament have today granted 16 and 17 year olds the right to vote in Scottish Parliamentary elections and Scottish Council elections. The British Youth Council and Votes at 16 Coalition welcomes the unanimous support for the voice of 16 and 17 year olds in Scotland and calls on the UK Government to