OT: British lowered voting age....

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IBleedMaroonDawg

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to 16 years of age. Thoughts on this?



Find Out Art GIF
 

johnson86-1

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to 16 years of age. Thoughts on this?

I think the percentage of UK between 16 and 18 that are Muslim is going to be more than double that of the percentage of the population above 18 that is muslim. Complete guess without researching but I'm guessing some in Labour see this as a way to accelerate demographic change in the voting population.
 

QuaoarsKing

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I think the percentage of UK between 16 and 18 that are Muslim is going to be more than double that of the percentage of the population above 18 that is muslim. Complete guess without researching but I'm guessing some in Labour see this as a way to accelerate demographic change in the voting population.
While I wouldn't put anything past anyone, I don't see this moving the needle much if that's the goal.

Some quick Googling tells me that (rounded off numbers) 6% of the UK population is Muslim, 10% of the 16-17 population is Muslim, and 2% of the UK population is 16 or 17.

Making some huge round numbers and assumptions, the electorate goes from 6% Muslim to 6.08% Muslim. I found some surveys that suggested 60 - 80% of Muslims vote Labour, so assuming that 16-17-year-olds would vote the same way and at the same rate (probably optimistic), you're talking about increasing their vote share by around 0.05%.

I would think that they are after 16 and 17-year-olds generally, not merely trying to chase 0.05% of the vote from Muslims.
 

johnson86-1

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I prefer one age for everything. I think 18 is a good age to legally allow:
  • voting
  • serving in the military
  • drinking alcohol (lowered from 21)
  • driving (raised from 16)
We are already not having enough kids to replace ourselves on average. Not sure how much worse making parents run carpool for another two years would be, but it certainly can't help.

I'm all for making voting and drinking rights contingent on paying net income taxes.
 
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anon1758050382

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We are already not having enough kids to replace ourselves on average. Not sure how much worse making parents run carpool for another two years would be, but it certainly can't help.
In 2022, drivers under the age of 18 were involved in 8.1% of all fatal traffic crashes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). While they represent only 5.0% of all licensed drivers, their involvement in fatal crashes is disproportionately high. Specifically, there were 2,034 young drivers who died in traffic crashes in 2022.
 

Xenomorph

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In 2022, drivers under the age of 18 were involved in 8.1% of all fatal traffic crashes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). While they represent only 5.0% of all licensed drivers, their involvement in fatal crashes is disproportionately high. Specifically, there were 2,034 young drivers who died in traffic crashes in 2022.
^ found the underwriter.
 

QuaoarsKing

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The UK has been hanging by a thread. This will seal it’s fate
Letting an extra 2% of the population vote, probably at lower turnout rates than any other age band, and probably not at particularly different proportions by party, is going to make the difference in whether a country survives or not?

This may swing a couple of really close Parliament races from year to year, but >99% of the time it won't.
 
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johnson86-1

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In 2022, drivers under the age of 18 were involved in 8.1% of all fatal traffic crashes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). While they represent only 5.0% of all licensed drivers, their involvement in fatal crashes is disproportionately high. Specifically, there were 2,034 young drivers who died in traffic crashes in 2022.
Some of that is certainly being young, but a lot of that is also being inexperienced drivers, which you can't really avoid by delaying driving.

I suspect people over 70 are in accidents at a disproportionate rate per mile driven, and you can't, or at least shouldn't, prohibit all of them from driving just because on average they aren't as good. At some point individuals have to matter.
 

HotMop

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In 2022, drivers under the age of 18 were involved in 8.1% of all fatal traffic crashes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). While they represent only 5.0% of all licensed drivers, their involvement in fatal crashes is disproportionately high. Specifically, there were 2,034 young drivers who died in traffic crashes in 2022.
What was it for drivers over 70?
 

85Bears

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Bad idea. Bad motives.
Letting an extra 2% of the population vote, probably at lower turnout rates than any other age band, and probably not at particularly different proportions by party, is going to make the difference in whether a country survives or not?

This may swing a couple of really close Parliament races from year to year, but >99% of the time it won't.
so why is Starmer pushing it when he’s behind in the polls ? Idealism ? Ha
 

Maroon Eagle

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paindonthurt

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I think the percentage of UK between 16 and 18 that are Muslim is going to be more than double that of the percentage of the population above 18 that is muslim. Complete guess without researching but I'm guessing some in Labour see this as a way to accelerate demographic change in the voting population.
I legit don’t understand how people are so dumb to vote against their own self interest.
 

Boosh

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Absolutely terrible idea. Virtually no 16 year old is contributing to society and they certainly aren't independent, much less mature and responsible. I agree with others, you must pay taxes to vote. Making a bad choice should cost you something. You must have some skin in the game.
 
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