No, it should be raised

We already have an endemic issue in many western democracies wherein political participation skews older not evenly representational of all members of the population. This crucially fails the young people who increasingly don’t have a say in the decision making that will impact their future.

Shouldn’t this future generation have a say in how their country works politically and economically?

As a 17-year-old who pays taxes for both my car and labor tax and can have a literate conversation about politics i deserve the right to vote for the people who affect me.

Many would not bother voting if they are disinterested, but 16 and 17 year old can have their own opinions and as they are entering the working or further education age, they should have a say in how that looks.

Raising the voting age would strip democratic rights from millions of citizens who are already legally considered adults — they work, pay taxes, and can even serve in the military. If we accept the right to vote as a democratic principle, then denying them the vote while still expecting them to shoulder the responsibilities of adulthood is fundamentally unjust.

The suggestion is based purely on ill/mis-informed youths, I could say the exact same thing for those in their 90's

I don't think it should be raised as there are many people who are 16 or 18 who would really like to vote and should be able to vote with the sufficient background knowledge

We have historically been successful with an 18 year old voting age, Scotland and wales have been even more successful with a 16 year old voting age.

There is no evidence that proves that under 18s are any more inexperienced or uneducated politically. If the parliament votes on issues that directly affect them (i.e, tuition fees), then they should have a say in who represents them

We do not give enough agency to young people and hence they do not get involved in politics in later life

With that it just silences the whole youth and a stigma of resentment and anger towards the country would boil and end up in riots and violence, which would be very much justified.

There is no remote argument for raising the voting age. 18 year olds are adults in every other way. They have to be responsible at 18, there is no way they should not have the vote.

People who will be effected by the election should be able to vote regardless of age, If anything there should be a cap on voting for people aged over 75 as policies will least affect them

younger demographics pay tax if they work so should have a say in how their money is spent , unless you change to not tax them at all

Anyone that is eligible to be taxed, and is a UK citizen or has continued residency of 5 years or more should be permitted to engage in the UK's political mechanics.

I would ask why these 16 year olds are old enough to gamble/. Buy lottery tickets and potentially win millions but yet don't have a say on who's in government. They might be legally classed as children but they were individuals with their own opinions with their whole lives ahead of them. They are the next generation they should have a choice.

Why? what "wisdom" do older people have, many of them blindly believe politicians and media while being completely misinformed by them. People believe the stereotype of young and naïve but some older people are as bad if not worse than those they put down.

This is a very traditional mindset, openness across all age groups is paramount unless they are not of age.

I disagree as raising the voting age would remove a large number of citizens who would like to contribute to the government's plans.

Doing so alienates a large portion of the population who will, no doubt, be unduly affected by any changes.

Young people will deal with the consequences of the vote for longer so should have more say. If we are to increase the voting age we should at least also decrease it as old people can be just as mentally incapable as a three year old so why should they get a say in how the country is run.

If you pay taxes on your income, you deserve a say in how those taxes are spent.
If you can join the armed forces and die for your country, you deserve a say in who makes those decisions.

since the government is making decisions that will affect the young people the most, they should be able to take part in choosing the people who will make the decisions.

Our elections affect the newer generations futures more than the elderly. Younger generations care more about their futures and so put in the work to educate themselves on politics. They should be allowed a day on their future.

By raising the minimum voting age, you restrict young adults even further. These are the same people who are going to move into the workforce and begin paying tax, of which, the government needs to be able to make important decisions about how the country operates. Therefore, these people have every right to vote as those who are older than them.

Age shouldn't be a barrier (within reason), especially if their are decisions being made about those people.

Allows young voices to dictate their own future; also allows the government to take insight from a younger demographic of citizens. Also means that medieval and bigoted views of older generations are balanced out, preventing oppression of minority groups.

The younger generations are commonly the most affected and with further political education in school it would widen the franchise.

Raising voting age excludes those that will be represented. If the voting age is lowered to 16 it helps the youth vote on their own futures.

Everyone has a right to have a say in how the country is run, if 18 is a legal adult expected to work and contribute to society they should have a say in the aspects of society controlled by the government

This is an ageist way to disconnect the future of politics from understand the reality of our society.

Because cost of living is increasing and greedy corporations will happily take a profit and pay employees the minimum amount. They don’t care about human life, only profit.

Dementia Alzheimer’s Parkinson’s
The lack of future interest in the decision
Poor track record of decisions taken.
Poor historic educational achievement.

If 16 year olds have medical independent they should be able to vote for a goverment they will see change the world they will see in adult hood

As long as 16+ year olds understand the policies of each mainstream party they should be allowed to vote.

So an adult should not be allowed to vote? If you raise the MVA, you may as well raise the threshold for what makes an adult too

if it gets raised less votes come in and due to us having an ageing population less people are represented

Why are 16 year olds are old enough to gamble through the purchase of lottery tickets and potentially win millions but don't have a say on who's in government? They might be legally classed as children but they are individuals with their own opinions, are legally allowed to work and can pay taxes, they should be allowed to vote on what happens with their money. They are the next generation they should have a choice.

Why are 16 year olds old enough to gamble through the purchase of lottery tickets and potentially win millions, but do not have a say on who's in government. They might be legally classed as children but they are individuals, who can legally work and pay tax, with their own opinions with their whole lives ahead of them. They are the next generation they should have a choice.

The you get generation have proved time and time again that they are accepting of others, willing to learn and adapt and grow and have an amazing vision of a great future for our country

no, shouldn't those that are going to be working living and paying taxes in the country in the future, be able to vote on who they want to be leading. if there is one PM that bans all electric cars now but then in the future they realise it is worse then normal diesel cars then it. so the decisions happening now will affect the future and some decisions are permanent.