Young people aged 16 and 17 could soon be able to cast a vote at the council elections in Wales under plans to modernise elections. Wales would follow Scotland where the voting age has already been lowered for the Scottish and local government elections. These are the same 16-year-olds, let’s not forget, who are not permitted to get a tongue piercing, use sunbeds, or purchase alcohol or tobacco. So what’s behind the campaigning to extend the vote to 16 year-olds? According to WORLDwrite’s producer, Fraser Myers, it is easy to see why the SNP or the Labour Party believes in lowering the voting age: they think most young people are more progressive and liberal than older people, who are often portrayed as bigoted and selfish.
