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Lowering the voting age debate

Andrew Roper

I'm 18 years old and work full-time for BT in the Broadband Marker Helpdesk. I studied English, Business and Politics for A-Level at St. Bedes school in Redhill, Surrey, achieving grades AAB respectively. I plan to study politics at Leicester University as of September 2007. My hobbies include socialising, football and music.

• Do you think that the voting age should be lowered from 18 to 16?

  No

• Why do you believe it should/shouldn't?

  Because in my experience there is a wide variety of maturity levels in 16 year olds - some may well have the maturity to be able to make an educated vote, but many do not and so the outcome of an election may be skewed by the badly thought out vote of a handful of 16 year olds.

• Why do you think there was such a poor turnout at the last election?

  I think it was a combination of the following factors:

  • A backlash against the war in Iraq
  • Policies that were unclear and not attractive to most voters
  • Policies indistinguishable between parties
  • People tend to vote more when things are going wrong (especially in the economy), which currently they aren't
  • Inevitability of a Labour third term
  • Negative campaigning and negative publicity from the media
• If you could vote, which policies would be most important to you?

  Higher education, NHS, foreign policy (especially in Iraq, the EU, and the war against poverty).

• Do you think that most people your age know much about politics? Why is this?

  No, as politics isn’t taught in schools unless chosen as an option, so most people don't have even a basic knowledge of how the political system operates.

• Do you think most people your age care about politics? Why is this?

  No, because they don't understand it, and therefore see it as irrelevant.

• What is your overall opinion of today's politicians?

  Generally competent, but lacking in personality.

• What would you change about this?

  I'd encourage more debate and less party-orientated politics. I’d allow have more 'free' votes and encourage politicians to think for themselves. I’d organise more public debates in places where they will be seen (i.e. not just on Question Time), and would actively seek more far-ranging opinions. I’d also stop politicians from having any outside commitments like being a company director and would change the voting system to one more representative of public opinion. And I’d stop parliament being allowed to set MP's salaries.

• Who do you admire in public life?

  Martin Johnson

• Do you think they would make a good politician? If yes, why?

  In some ways yes - he is a very charismatic leader with strong belief in what he does. Although ultimately no, as he lacks the capacity to engage when speaking publicly and does not clearly communicate his views.

• What do you think will happen to politics in the future?

  I think politics will become more 'world' orientated with more powerful world leaders emerging from the more established democracies (such as UK and the US) and having enhanced powers to affect global issues (i.e. climate change, war on terror).

• If you could rule the world for a day what would you do?

  I’d take £20 off every person in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Island, add around £1bn from government funds and divide it between all the democratically elected governments in Africa.

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