More than half of young people in Wales want the voting age lowered to 16, according to a National Assembly for Wales consultation.
Launched in November by the Presiding Officer, Dame Rosemary Butler AM, the #Vote16Wales consultation has received more than 10,000 responses from 11 to 25-year-olds across Wales – the biggest ever response to an Assembly consultation.
Some of the key findings include:
- 53 per cent of respondents said yes to lowering the voting age to 16, 29 per cent said no, while 18 per cent were unsure;
- 51 per cent ranked the polling station as their preferred voting method;
- 79 per cent think it's important for young people to learn about politics and the voting system;
- 77 per cent chose school/college as the best place to learn about politics and the voting system;
- 64 per cent said they would like to learn more about the political system;
- 58 per cent said they would vote at an election tomorrow if they were eligible.
"This is the biggest ever response we've had to an Assembly consultation and therefore offers an authoritative analysis of the views of young people on this issue," Dame Rosemary said.
"This report is a unique contribution to the debate about lowering the voting age. Whilst politicians at Westminster and here in the Senedd have debated the issue at length, this gives us crucial insight to the views of the people directly affected by a potential change in the law.
"At a time when the Secretary of State for Wales is finalising a new draft Wales Bill to include devolving electoral arrangements for Assembly elections, the sample size and the considered view of young people as highlighted in the report gives me a clear mandate to inform Assembly Members that it is the will of the young people of Wales to lower the voting age to 16.
"My fellow politicians and I must also listen to the many hundreds of comments that reflect the young generation's desire to vote but inability to do so because of their lack of understanding of the process. I will continue to play my role in addressing this information vacuum and look forward to discussing this issue with Assembly Members and Government Ministers over the coming months.
"I have been inspired by many of the comments received from young people. One of my personal favourites is: "Democracy is upheld by citizens playing their part as equally as politicians". Young people are integral to the process of shaping the future of our nation – we must give them the right support so that we optimise their contribution."
The report will be launched at the "Assemble the Youth Conference" at the Senedd on 15 July, which will be attended by young people who took part in the consultation.
Dan Boughton, aged 21, from Cardiff, said: "I am against lowering the voting age to 16. How can young people understand what to vote for if they have not been provided with proper education in the first place?"
Finley Morris, aged 18, from Cardiff, said: "Personally I think young people at 16 should be able to vote; however, I don't think they should be allowed until political education is made compulsory in the curriculum."
During the conference the Presiding Officer will commit to a series of actions in response to the views of Wales' young people.
Dame Rosemary will:
- Use the survey results to inform party leaders / the Secretary of State in advance of May 2016 election and introduction of the Wales Bill;
- Use the results to inform discussions with the Electoral Commission about:
- raising young people's awareness of the electoral process and political education more generally;
- future electoral arrangements as drafted in the relevant provisions of the Wales Bill;
- Use the survey results to inform the Education Minister that young people have called for more/better political education as a result of the consultation, in order to feed into any future curriculum revisions;
- Use the survey results to further enhance our own education and outreach provision and discuss new opportunities to work with key stakeholders, such as the Children's Commissioner and other NGOs, on new activities.