The case fo lowering the voting age to 16

 Ollie Middleton, Guardian UK- Ed Miliband’s announcement on Tuesday that 16- and 17-year-olds would get the vote under a Labour government had been in the pipeline for a while, but he has now set out a timetable for the policy. Inevitably, this has resulted in the usual arguments, trotted out this time across social media: 16-year-olds are too young, undereducated and incapable of making informed decisions.

They are wrong. Turning 16 is one of the few birthdays in your life when you really feel different. You find yourself questioning the world around you more, and begin to formulate your own opinions, yet the platform for articulating these opinions is limited. It is hard to make your voice heard – at precisely the age when you are buzzing with ideas. You are also vulnerable to decisions taken by government in a way you haven’t been before. The abolition of the educational maintenance allowance, the hike in tuition fees – these are policies that almost exclusively hit people who are not part of the established pool of voters.

The common assertion that young people lack political understanding is simply untrue. Political apathy affects people right across the board, and we should continue to challenge it, in particular by providing better political education at school. But youth and ignorance do not necessarily go hand in hand – and it’s deeply patronising to pretend that they do. Many young people have sophisticated, well-formulated views, and any politician will tell you that a Q&A with teenagers is a daunting prospect. We have a responsibility to give them the platform they deserve.

And, for those 16- and 17-year-olds who really are less well informed, legislating to give them the vote is the surest way to engage them in the political process. Votes at 16 would also give schools an opportunity to work to encourage young people to vote; voting registration and voting itself could take part in schools. This would enhance the democratic process by making our political system more accessible. And research shows that the earlier you start voting, the more likely you are to continue.

We allow 16-year-olds to get married, to work full time, to pay tax and to join the armed forces. We are allowing them to make serious and active contributions to society but not letting them partake in the decisions that form the basis of our society.