Do you think 18-24 year olds should have two votes in elections?

[user1475682162]

I was reading about this on DS and was interested in your views. Been a longtime lurker- decided to bite the bullet and join so please don't bully me

It is possibly one of the most stupid ideas I have ever heard of.

Why should an 18 year old you may still be at school get twice as much say as someone who goes out to work and contributes to society through their taxes?

No. every citizen is equal. Everyone who is intelligent enough to realise they live with the consequences should vote. Equality in the vote enables all to have their say and for democracy to balance up the interests of the many cross cutting subsets in society for the good of the whole. We should never set one generation against another - especially since we are a very ageist society. The majority of the older old voted to remain and many served the country, built the welfare state and contributed to our economy all their lives. Older people are just us - with more experience and often more humility.

Can I have 10 votes because I'm in the 40% tax bracket?

What a ridiculous idea!

I'm left handed! FINALLY someone is proposing an advantage in my sad clumsy back to front life.

Why join a forum to ask for people's feedback about a Digital Spy article? Seems like a lot of effort

I think the argument in favour of this (which was widely mooted by remainers post Brexit) is that voting in this country is unfairly weighted towards the older generations as there are more of them. This has led to circumstances where an overwhelming amount of the countries wealth is held by the old and political policy highly favours the old e.g. the pension triple lock, no will to do anything about house prices. And policies which harm the younger generations such as tuition fees, or not dealing with high cost housing are tolerated.

The idea is that if an increased number of votes were given to the age groups which are smaller in number then age groups would be treated more equitably rather than older people receiving preferential treatment.

But it's a stupid idea. Unworkable and undemocratic.

Generally, debates start with opening arguments. Demanding people debate something without presenting any context or points for and against yourself is not very inviting or thought provoking.

I think all should have one vote as that is the only way to ensure complete fairness. Having said that, I don't know a lot about it.

Votes should be weighted by tax paid - more contribution, more votes.
No representation without taxation.

I'm getting fed up with lazy journalists & people who can't be bothered doing their own assignments. It's tedious.

Weighted by tax paid? So the rich have far more say than the poor? No, not in favour of that idea (assuming you were serious?)

No. If anything, older people should have two votes, because their life experience enables them to vote more wisely.

(Not seriously suggesting this - anyone getting more than one vote is undemocratic!)

You can't debate something without giving a point of view or and argument for or against.

If you wanted a debate, your op missed the mark.

My personal opinion is that no, no one should get 2 votes.

Everyone could argue that their circumstances make them worthy of two votes. A sahp would say they are raising a further generation so need an extra one as they are representing their kids, wohp could argue they have continually paid tax, childless could argue they are more objective and think about what's best for the country now, not what's best in 40 years time, the elderly could argue they have more life experience.

Non of these arguments are worthy or damaging democracy. It's ridiculous

Why would 'remainers' target the younger generation?

After all, it was the referendum this year which said 'no' to Europe. The current 'older' generation voted "yes" in the 1970s.

So there's no reason to cast them as Europhile. Or against EEC.

The frantic casting round to "other" a group and "blame" them for one side failing to secure enough popular support in a properly constituted referendum has been a bit off all along. And now is just getting ridiculous.

AIBU to think that my cat short LD be able to votes in elections?

Discuss.

I honestly cannot see how anyone can think it's a great idea so I don't understand where debate comes into it?

Compulsory voting there's a debate in but a random stupid idea that basically makes a mockery of democracy and undermines the entire system. Really why would anyone think it's great? Even you don't so I can't understand why you are trying to get people to debate it.

Cat should*

The young couldn't even be arsed using the one vote they had. So the ones that could peel themselves away from snap chat/Instagram/you tube for 5 minutes to go and vote should be rewarded with an extra one.

Voting isn't like school where you get a gold star or extra house points for doing well. It means you get an active say in how the society we live in is run.

I don't know why posters are getting their knickers in such a twist and giving you such a hard time OP I actually think it's an interesting question. I assume it was intended as a hypothetical question to open up wider debates surrounding compulsory voting as they have in Australia and demographics of the voting public. I actually dont think it's such a ridiculous idea.

I don't understand why you're so pissed off with everyone's responses. You read the digital spy article and thought it was a daft idea. Everyone agrees with you..

Let's bring back the University seats while we are about it!

Preposterous.

onemorecup its more the fact that OP isn't actually entering the discussion of her ever so interesting debate topic.

I think the argument goes that youngsters have more future to lose than their elders. Just like the vote used to be restricted to property owners because they had a stake in the country, something to lose, etc., etc. All bollocks.

As is giving Sixteens the vote. Too young, too immature, too suggestible. Of course there are exceptions but you have to draw a bright line.