DFM To Meet Young Voters

Young people are getting the chance to tell the Deputy First Minister why they should get to vote in next year's Scottish elections.

Power over the voting age is set to be transferred to Holyrood in time for thr 2016 ballot, following a high turnout in the independence referendum.

MSPs will address the issue at Holyrood later.

It comes after the Devolution (Further Powers) Committee recently supported the general principles of a Bill that would allow people aged over 16 to vote in next year's Scottish Parliament election.

The Scottish Election (Reduction of Voting Age) Bill, which would give 16 and 17 year olds the right to vote in all future elections to the Scottish Parliament and local authority elections, has been supported in the Committee’s Stage 1 report into the Bill.

Committee Convener Bruce Crawford MSP said:

"All parties represented on the Committee and the Parliament agree that 16 and 17 year olds should be able to vote in future elections. The experience of last year’s referendum – and the enthusiasm and engagement it generated – demonstrated that young people not only want a voice, they want a vote.

“In our evidence session we have heard from those involved in administering elections, in compiling registers, and from representatives of young people including young people themselves.

“While the Committee believes that more needs to be done to ensure that schools and colleges are best supported to help discussion of election issues, we unanimously support the general principles of this Bill.”