At the age of 16, a person can leave school, can marry, can have children, can pay taxes, can work full time and can join the armed forces. They should have the right to vote for a government that would have a direct impact on such rights.

At 16, an individual often pays tax. They are required to give up a portion of money to the government. Yet they are denied a say in the government that will inevitably spend their hard earned cash.

In addition to this, the turnout for our current government was dangerously low in the 2015 General Election. It always is. Around 65% of registered voters voted. 37% of these 65% voted for the government. How can our government be based on what a tiny amount of the population want? Reducing the voting age will increase turnout. This is because people are likely to maintain the habit of voting throughout their lives if they start at a younger age.

Currently, a child can leave school at 16. They are leaving an environment where political issues are frequently discussed, in PSHEE and Citizenship lessons for example, thus increasing their interest in politics. Once they have left school, they may have to wait up to 7 years before they have their first opportunity to vote at a general election. By this time, they have lost interest and will be less likely to vote.

And quite frankly, I find it unfair how 16 and 17 year olds will spend the majority of the five years the government is in power for as an adult and a taxpayer and yet have no say in the government and thus its policies and the decisions it will make, that will inevitably end up affecting their lives.