Salford City Council backs votes for 16-year-olds

SALFORD CITY COUNCIL are supporting a campaign to lower the national voting age.

A joint letter was sent by the lead member of Salford City Council, the city’s youth mayor and a member of youth parliament to encourage Greater Manchester leaders to support reducing the voting age to 16.

The second reading of the Representation of the People (Young People’s Enfranchisement and Education) Bill, 2017-19, had its second debate in the House of Commons on 3 November 2017 however it was cut short. The debate will now resume on Friday 1 December 2017.

News: Salford council backs votes for 16 year olds – Salford is backing a campaign to lower the voting age to 1… https://t.co/6SnTPQFZNb

— Salford City Council (@SalfordCouncil) November 16, 2017

Councillor Lisa Stone, Lead Member for Children’s and Young People’s Services at Salford City Council, said: “In Salford, we wholeheartedly support the Votes at 16 Campaign. 16 and 17 year olds are knowledgeable and passionate about the world in which they live, and they should have the opportunity to vote.

“Young people’s role in shaping society is incredibly important. They need to know they are valued, to feel involved in their communities at an early age and be given the opportunity to be heard, to shape local communities, services and society.”

Gina Cotone, mother of a 16 year old,  stated whether she believes her daughter should have the right to vote.

Josh Baxter, Member of Youth Parliament for Salford, said: “Lowering the voting age to 16, combined with strong citizenship education, would empower more young people to better engage in society and influence decisions that will define their future.”

Wik Matuszewska, Salford’s Youth Mayor, said: “We are urging senior representatives across Greater Manchester to campaign for the voting age to be lowered to 16.”

Calling all 16-year-olds. The Tories have blocked your right to vote. You might want to remember that when you’re 18. #VotesAt16

— Nick Kehoe (@NickKehoe01) November 3, 2017

 

Should 16 year olds have the right to vote?

— Elia Sabba (@SabbaElia) November 22, 2017