Would giving 16-year-olds the vote improve democracy or just change the way campaigns are run?

I think giving 16 year olds, and indeed children of all ages, the right to vote would improve democracy. The point of democracy is that everyone who’s affected by the decisions being made should have the chance to vote for which government is in power. Children are just as impacted by politics as adults: everything around us is affected by the decisions that governments make. In my opinion younger generations are actually the most affected by politics, because it doesn't just shape our lives today, but will shape what our lives look like in the future. For example, governments’ decisions about climate change: In 2025, 38.11 billion metric tonnes of carbon dioxide was released into the atmosphere, which will have a devastating impact on our planet in my lifetime.This is my future, my life, my planet. But I don’t get a say. I also think that younger voters might think more about the long term impacts of their decisions because they know that it’s our future being shaped. Throughout history young people have voted for more progressive governments, and valued equality, and future generations.

Some main arguments raised by topical talkers against children voting are that children would be unable to understand the big picture, or be easily manipulated because they lack maturity. But as Clémentine Beauvais, one of the experts whose videos we were shown on topical talk, said “the important thing is: do you want to vote” If someone is mature enough to want to vote, to show an interest in politics, then they’re mature enough to make an educated decision. I agree that there would of course be children who don’t know enough about politics, but this is no different to adults. Children might also be more prone to being manipulated, as children place a lot of trust in the adults in their lives. But again, the same goes for adults: if someone has been made to think one way their entire life, that’s not going to change the moment they turn 18.

I think that campaigns might change in order to appeal to younger audiences or manipulate children. But would this be such a big change? Political campaigns are already manipulative - persuasion is a form of manipulation.

I think giving 16 year olds the vote would improve democracy by making it fairer, and wouldn’t actually change the way campaigns are run all that much.