ELECTORAL COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION ON AGE OF ELECTORAL MAJORITY

That this House expresses disappointment at the Electoral Commission's recommendation that the voting age remain at 18 years, believing that this sends out a message to young people that their views are not taken seriously; notes that two thirds of the responses to the Commission's consultation supported lowering the voting age to 16 years; recognises that at 16 and 17 years, young people's lives are as rich and varied as at any other age, that they have considerable responsibilities, and routinely make complex decisions; believes that the Electoral Commission's report is out of line with the lives of young people today; and calls upon the government to reject the Commission's support for the status quo, and undertake speedy reform to give 16 and 17 year olds the right to vote in all public elections.