Backing for plans allowing youngsters to vote in referendum
Teenagers under the age of 18 in the Highlands will relish being able to vote in the independence referendum should a new law be introduced.
That is the view of two young politically active figures in the region who have predicted a surge of interest from 16 and 17-year-olds wanting to participate in the historic vote.
The youngest Highland councillor Alex MacLeod and the region’s former youth convener John Erskine have both backed the Scottish Government’s bid to change the law, ahead of the October 2014 ballot.
If the proposed legislation, which has now entered the Scottish Parliament, is successful it would allow everyone aged 16 plus on the day of the vote to take part, instead of the current 18-year-old limit.
The SNP government has argued it is wrong people under 18 can marry, pay taxes and drive but are barred from voting.
The party’s long-standing policy has won support from national teaching and student unions and the Electoral Reform Society.
Councillor MacLeod, who was elected to the local authority aged 19 last year, said it was a massive step forward for young people and an issue he had backed for several years.
“Young people have been rubbished by people from all the unionist parties,” said the independence supporter and former SNP member.
“I have actually fought for it since I entered politics. Nationalists have been arguing it for many years now and it is a very proud day for me.”
The 20-year-old, who is also the youngest councillor in Scotland, claimed it could swing the vote for independence, despite political analyst Professor John Curtice, of Strathclyde University, saying there was a lack of evidence it could play a big role in a Yes vote.
“I think it could have a huge impact, polls consistently show that young people, by a whopping majority, want an independent Scotland,” said Councillor MacLeod.
Mr Erskine, who stood as a Labour candidate for Highland Council in last year’s elections, thought it was a positive move to extend democracy to 16 and 17-year-olds.
“It [the referendum vote] is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to let young people have a voice,” said the 22-year-old.
“It is a step in the right direction and I think young people will be very interested in this issue. It is their future, a lot of the older voters are not going to see the whole effects of it [the referendum result].”
Some critics have suggested 16 and 17-year-olds may not be mature enough to make a decision but that was rejected by Mr Erskine who said the referendum was a simple yes or no answer.
Mr Erskine called for the Electoral Commission to visit schools in the region to educate all those who would be eligible so pupils and parents had all the access to the information required.
But Mr Erskine, who is involved in the pro-union Better Together group, did not think any law change would favour the independence movement.
Councillor MacLeod said he intended to raise the issue with the local authority’s leadership because it currently does not have a statutory requirement to raise awareness amongst schools about the likely new law.
