Plans to allow 16 and 17-year-olds to vote in local council elections have been welcomed by Islwn Assembly Member Rhianon Passmore.
If passed, the Welsh Government plans would allow youngsters to cast their vote in Wales’ next local authority elections in May 2022.
The changes would not apply to UK General Elections which are still controlled by the UK Government, or the Welsh Assembly elections scheduled to be held in 2021.
Cabinet Secretary for Local Government and Public Services, Alun Davies AM, said: “Local democracy is all about participation. We want to boost the numbers registered as electors, make it easier for people to cast their votes, and give more people the right to take part.”
As part of the proposed reforms, all foreign nationals legally resident in Wales would also be allowed to vote.
The Welsh Government says automatic registration would help ensure fewer people were missed from the electoral register.
Mr Davies said he wants councils to pilot innovative new voting methods such as remote digital voting and polling stations at supermarkets, libraries, leisure centres and railway stations.
Mr Davies added: “I am concerned we are still seeing far too many people, particularly young people, disengaged from the political process.
“There are many reasons for this but we must do more to make the process more attractive, welcoming and transparent.
“The proposals we’re announcing will, we hope, help increase participation and improve the democratic process for everyone in Wales.
Labour’s Islwyn AM Rhianon Passmore said: “These changes are about engaging people in the political process, especially younger voters. We know that voting is a habit and that amongst those that vote the habit sticks, unfortunately this is also the case for people that don’t vote.
“I am also excited about exploring new ways of voting. Just because we have voted in a certain way in the past, doesn’t mean that is the only way. People’s lives and lifestyles are varied and it should be as easy as possible for them to vote. I will of course be asking questions to ensure that any voting method is completely secure.
“It is also right that residents have the full picture when they choose to vote. Too often we see card carrying political party members stand as independents, without letting voters know of their affiliation.”
Jessica Blair, Director of the Electoral Reform Society Cymru, said: “We are delighted to see the Welsh Government bringing forward these innovative ideas to modernise our democracy.
“It is an opportunity for Wales to lead the way in creating a political system that works for everybody and it is particularly pertinent as we recognise the centenary of the first women getting the vote.
“Last year our Missing Voices project, in which we talked about politics and voting with nearly 1,000 people across Wales, revealed an appetite for doing things differently.
“We believe these recommendations are the first step in making that happen.”
Labour – so desperate to gain voters from any age group !
I remember being sixteen, being a tax payer, working 50 hours a week and wanting a vote. Because of this I have a certain sympathy with todays sixteen year olds who want the same thing.
That said how can a government who will not allow a sixteen year old buy a knife or a firework trust the same person to make a vital democratic decision on who governs our country? I am ambivalent about this but it is plain that children display less maturity than those of a similar age in past years. I am open to debate on this one, I do agree with John Coffi that the Labour and Green parties favour votes for sixteen year olds because they think that they will be benificiaries of the young vote.
Im guessing we are of simlar ages when we was sixteen i feel we were more mature to deal with issues in the world. Todays generation are too scared to comment on anything so will be lead by sheep or tell them what to think. This is the reason i dont believe 16 should vote. Our snowflake generation is causing havoc in todays society. I had an interesting debate with my granddaughter on this, she said the snowflake generation as i call them are caring people at least we didnt go around killing people during the second world war. If this is the opinion of the snowflakes God help us.
Did you see the report in the media of the fracas at Bristol university – where Jacob Rees- Mogg attended to speak at a debate ?
A small group caused mayhem – even other students were appalled at the behaviour.
Is that the sort of generation we want representing democracy in this country ?
I did see that, the problem we have is that these left wing students only want free speech if you agree with their way of thinking. If you dont they wont debate it as normal mature adults they use violance. They hate anyone who thinks different from them. Why cant they see that people havr different views. Freedom of speech equality should be for all not just the looney left wing snowflakes.
You are right Edward, too many young people’s response to those of a differing view is to try and silence them by fair means or foul. The ones who tried to disrupt Jacob Rees Mogg are a case in point. Mogg is one of the best orators of his generation, has a superb analytical mind and is a stauch defender of the rights of normal people to have their say.
I don’t agree with everything Mogg says but would pay money for the chance to debate the issues of the day with a great parliamentarian. This was on offer from Mogg who wished to speak with the demonstrators. Their reaction was to try and physically attack him. Very bad behaviour.
Yes,that’s the problem – the loony left wing don’t accept that everyone is entitled to an opinion.
As you say, if your opinion or views are different to theirs then they can’t accept that.
Most appear to be from the snowflake generation and are used to getting their own way – and when that doesn’t happen they don like it.
They attach themselves to any cause – even if that cause has no relevance to their own country and their cause is being fuelled by many universities who seem determined to control / free speech.
You have a valid point there Richard.
I agree that many ( but not all ) 16/17 year olds appear less mature than our generation at that age – but I also know people in their 30’s;40’sand 50’s who appear immature,so to deny these teenagers a vote purely on grounds of age/ immaturity would seem wrong.
It is the principle behind the idea I find wrong – I agree with your comments that Labour & the Green parties are in favour of the idea because they feel they will be the beneficiaries of the young vote.
Not only that – but if they are the beneficiaries,they will be able to brainwash these young voters into accepting all they promise as being realistic and achievable, where in fact they will find in years to come that their generation will have been saddled with even greater debt requiring even greater austerity measures ( what with the likes of Labour promising to put some of the private organisations back into public ownership and to buy every homeless person a house ! ( It is the young generation who will bear the burden of the cost of these pie in the sky gimmicks )
I listened to ‘Any Questions’ on the way home from work yesterday evening and this topic was discussed. One of the panel made the point that a minimum age was required but his own children could have voted at fourteen, in his estimation. I think that is a perfectly reasonable statement as children brought up to discuss current affairs between themselves and with their parents are probably able to make a rational drcision if given a ballot paper.
You are right, John, that many older people have only the flimsiest understanding of politics and yet they can vote. Funnily enough, on Brexit, the parties all seem to believe that the young are fully in favour of the EU and it’s all down to the older voters that we voted to leave as we are all retarded and want the British Empire back. Well the two main rabidly pro EU politicians are the geriatric Lord Hesseltine and Kenneth Clarke! Maybe the parties have got it wrong, again.
Yes,I think maybe the parties have got it wrong – as I am one who voted to leave the EU they regard me as one of those older retarded voters !
We have to ask the question of these old retarded “has been” politicians what is it they fear losing when we leave the EU? are they putting their own financial interests before the will of the people ?
Good question, in many cases I believe personal financial interest is indeed the driving force behind their pronouncements.
Would they be allowed to vote via their X-Boxes, Etc,
Because you wont get them to leave their Homes.
How right you are ! and that also shows how little they know about the real world outside their homes and x-boxes/playstations .
Miss Passmore, Needs to go out and about, and see how most of these ,New Potential voters behave in the community, I’d like to see the voting age return to 21 yrs, or would the 16/18 vote be restricted to young Labour only.
I am suspicious, like you, that that is the intention. The thinking, amongst politicians, is that the 16/17 year olds will vote Labour.
Some very confused individuals on here spewing out the Daily Mail rhetoric. According to Edward J Smith today’s generation are “too afraid to speak out”, yet he then uses the Rees-Mogg incident to highlight how they abuse their right to free speech?
Apparently, these people are also brainwashed but it’s him who uses the sweeping generalisations and tabloid terms like “looney left snowflakes” to label these people. No hard evidence, just one comment his granddaughter made which he uses to try and sum up a whole generation of people! Great sample size, I think it’s safe to say he’s a little out of touch.
I am interested, John, to know if you want sixteen year olds to be able to vote, or should the current voting age be retained? In either case what is your reasoning behind your opinion?
I am for lowering the voting age to 16. Whilst I understand the reasoned arguments and apprehension against it I believe it could encourage more young people to become engaged with the democratic process. With youth unemployment so high and climbing the first step on property ladder is more difficult than it has been, it is inevitable that young people feel more disconnected than ever. Lowering the voting age won’t necessarily solve this problem, but giving them more of a voice- even in this murky democratic system of ours- can do no further harm.
Fair coment, as I said in my opening rmarks, I remember wanting to vote at sixteen myself. Where I am doubtful is that when I was sixteen I, and most of my friends, were working. This put us in close touch with older workers who could demolish our youthful political arguments and give us a grounding in rational thinking. At sixteen I had anarchist leanings which were gradually dispelled by the older, wiser heads of my fellow workers.
Today most under eighteens are in some form of education and do not have the benefit of daily argument with more experienced people. This has led to a worrying tendency for a large number of young people to dismiss any view that does not correspond with their youthful certainty. Even worse they seek to prevent anyone speaking who does not 100 percent agree with the views of the herd. Even Germaine Greer has fallen foul of this censorship and she is the last person I would describe as fitting the mould of a reactionary.
I have sympathy with those who argue for a younger voting age but remain suspicious of the politicians that urge this, I smell party self interest rather than a desire to help sixteen year old engage in politics. Engagement means making your views clear and a willingness to accept that others may have a different view. Debate must follow, not removing the right of a platform to others who hold a view you dislike.
I can’t imagine why left leaning parties would want 16 year olds to vote. Call me cynical but I think it might not be the interests of the teens they have in mind.
I have the same suspicion, see my latest comment above.