Voting At 16 Allows Young People Play Active Role In Public Life

With the Local and European Elections set to take-place on the same day in 2009, the Labour Party believes it makes sense for all those aged 16 above to be allowed vote and encouraged to play their part in the democratic system.

STATEMENT BY EAMON GILMORE TD
Labour Party Spokesperson on the Environment,
Launching ‘Voting at 16’ Bill,
Thursday, 22 March 2007

"The European Parliament and Local Elections (Voting at 16) Bill that we are launching today is an important step in allowing young people play a full role in the decisions that directly affect their lives at local and European levels.

The Labour Party first proposed lowering the voting age for Local and European Elections in our manifestoes for those elections in 2004. We are repeating that commitment today and if elected we will ensure that all those aged 16 will be entitled to vote in the 2009 Local and European Elections.

In doing so we believe that young people will finally have a real say in electing representatives to local authorities and to the European Parliament and in influencing decisions taken at those levels.

Many of the decisions taken by Local Authorities impact directly on young people. Aside from the obvious matters relating to facilities and amenities designed for teenagers and young adults, other matters to do with public transport, cycle lanes, green spaces, and sporting facilities are of real relevance to those aged 16 and above.

Local Authorities have a direct impact on education matters. Vocational Education Committees are appointed by Local Authorities and all matters to do with student grants are administered and dealt with by the Local Authority. With many young people first attending third level institutions aged 17, it is only right that they should have a democratic influence over electing representatives to the body that administers their financial support.

Also the Transition Year syllabus that many 16 year olds take actively encourages them to learn about politics and the concept of citizenship. What better way and more practical way to complement this than by actually giving them the right to vote and to play an active role in public decision-making?

With the Local and European Elections set to take-place on the same day in 2009, the Labour Party believes it makes sense for all those aged 16 above to be allowed vote and encouraged to play their part in the democratic system. "