Motion: University of Edinburgh Study on Votes for 16 and 17-year-olds

University of Edinburgh Study on Votes for 16 and 17-year-olds

Lodged by Jim Eadie Standard Motion 21 supporters

The motion

That the Parliament welcomes the results of a study undertaken by the University of Edinburgh, which highlighted that two thirds of 16 and 17-year-old Scots surveyed stated that they would have been very likely to vote in the 2015 UK General Election had they been able to do so; notes the study's finding that only 39% of 16 and 17-year-olds elsewhere in the UK said the same; further notes the finding that 57% of 16 and 17-year-olds in Scotland had taken part in other forms of non-electoral political engagement, such as petitioning or writing to their elected representative, compared with only 40% in the rest of the UK; understands that the University of Edinburgh surveyed 800 16 and 17-year-olds, half in Scotland and half in other parts of the UK; believes that the study highlights the success of offering young adults the opportunity to become involved in the democratic process, and believes that young adults who are old enough to pay tax, get married and join the armed forces should have the right to vote.

Supporters (21)