'Votes at 16' motion passed by Stormont Assembly

» John Hedges

An Phoblacht Editor

‘Recently in Scotland they announced that 16-year-olds will get the vote in the referendum on independence and also this week Argentina announced the vote for people aged 16 so it is apt that we brought this motion at this time.’

THE Assembly at Stormont has passed a motion tabled by Sinn Féin MLA Megan Fearon and the Green Party to lower the voting age to 16.

The motion was passed on Tuesday by 59 to 21.

The youngest member of the Oireachtas, Senator Kathryn Reilly of Cavan/Monaghan, who watched the Assembly pass the motion, called for the Dáil to give the vote to 16-year-olds.

Megan Fearon said:

“It is important that the voices of young people are heard and lowering the age to 16 would be an important step in allowing more people to participate in the democratic process.

“Recently in Scotland they announced that 16-year-olds will get the vote in the referendum on independence and also this week Argentina announced the vote for people aged 16 so it is apt that we brought this motion at this time.

“Young people are eager to participate in the democratic process and in countries like Austria where younger people have the vote the indications are that they are one of the biggest sectors that vote.”

The Assembly member for Newry and Armagh said that while this first step has been passed “we need to encourage more support so that we can see a similar motion in the British House of Commons and ensure young people engagement in any further elections”.