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Voting powers
12/06/2008
The UK Government should act now to give Scotland responsibility for its own elections - including the power to reduce the voting age to 16, Minister for Parliamentary Business Bruce Crawford said today.
Speaking at the Electoral Reform Society's 'STV One Year On' conference in Edinburgh, Mr Crawford said that the Scottish Government was committed to extending the franchise to 16 and 17 year olds.
Although the voting age for Parliamentary and local elections is reserved, the Scottish Government proposes reducing the voting age where current powers allow - for example in elections to health boards.
Mr Crawford said:
"It is the responsibility of us all to get young people interested in the democratic process. We cannot on the one hand say we are interested in the views of young people while on the other refusing them access to the ballot box until they are 18.
"While 16 year olds can pay taxes, get married or serve in the armed forces, they effectively have to bite their lip when it comes to decisions that will affect them.
"At the very point that society expects young people to assume many of the responsibilities that come with adulthood it is only right that they also get the right to vote. That is why I am happy to announce the Scottish Government's support for reducing the voting age to 16 for local government elections as a starting point.
"Later this month Ministers will present to Parliament the Health Board (Membership and Elections) Bill. We plan that the Bill extend the franchise for the pilot health board elections to include those aged 16 and over. If Parliament supports that proposal, young people will have their vote in an area in which the Scottish Parliament has competence.
"But as with so much of Scotland's electoral legislation, reducing the voting age for other elections is a matter reserved to Westminster. I can see no good reason why the voting age for elections in Scotland should not be decided in Scotland by our own democratically elected Parliament representing the people of Scotland.
"That is why I call upon the UK Government to transfer responsibility for the electoral franchise to the Scottish Parliament.
"This week the Local Government Committee report re-iterated support for transferring the running of Scottish Parliament elections to Scotland itself.
"Time is running out for the UK Government to make a decision on this issue. Either to transfer authority to the Scottish Parliament or explain to the Scottish people how its 'sticking plaster' approach can heal the fundamental problems identified by Ron Gould.
"This is not an issue that can be considered for much longer. Elections may be concluded overnight - but they can not be planned overnight."
ERS Scotland Director Amy Rodger said:
"The Society has been campaigning for votes at 16 for many years. Just as Scotland has shown the way by introducing STV for its local elections, we are delighted that the Scottish Government is now also taking the lead on this issue."
Bruce Crawford was speaking at the Electoral Reform Society (ERS) Conference. The ERS's Votes at 16 Coalition has campaigned to persuade government to extend the franchise to all adults over the age of 16.