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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

117 replies

user1475682162 · 05/10/2016 19:40

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

OP posts:
0pti0na1 · 06/10/2016 09:22

How long until this is in the DM?

DS readers say X, Mumsnet users say Y. Paste in some quotes, article complete.

LiviaDrusillaAugusta · 06/10/2016 10:48

How long until this is in the DM?

Frustrating as it is, it's a public forum - and one which is obsessed with slagging off the DM when posters aren't actually linking to DM articles.

Hardly surprising that they lift stuff from here really - it costs them nothing, it gets up the noses of the people who are slagging them off, HQ don't mind as it generates publicity....

apricotdanish · 07/10/2016 16:50

I've just seen this thread, wasn't aware it existed til now but found it via his email. This was my 13 year old boy who was doing a school assignment, he was asked to put this question on social media but as I am quite strict about social media use and he's seen me using AIBU he obviously thought he was being resourceful! I know none of you were aware of it was a child and of course he shouldn't be using an adult forum, but a little less harshness would be hugely appreciated.
As I say this wasn't a kid who couldn't be bothered to do their homework, his school asked him to put the question out their on social media and see what the responses were. I know we adults are thick skinned but no sure he would have been 😃 with some of these responses. I shall obviously ensure he finds other means of completing such assignments in the future😉

apricotdanish · 07/10/2016 16:51

That it was a child.

maxington · 07/10/2016 17:00

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

thehugemanatee · 07/10/2016 20:02

No

Andrewofgg · 08/10/2016 13:34

apricotdanish I like your DS's style. he will go far!

Grin
AmeliaJack · 08/10/2016 14:56

apricot

If this was your son and he's 13 yo I would be sitting down with him to explain why the thread didn't go well and discussing what he could have done to:

Elicit a more interesting debate
Respond better to criticism
Win over his audience.

garlicandsapphire · 08/10/2016 17:34

Assuming this question was driven by the results of the Brexit vote here are some other more analytical points to discuss:

  • when would the privileged double voters get their vote reduced down to one? At 30, 40 when?
  • why value youth over experience?
  • why assume everyone over 65 voted the same way? That's assuming 11 million people are one homogenous mass
  • why not encourage more young to use the one vote they already have? 82% of over 65s voted in the Brexit vote compared with 36% of 18-24 year olds... So if as many young people had voted as the 65+s the vote would have been remain.
  • actually more people voted to remain who had higher education - would you argue that people with a unversity degree should have 2 votes. Or those with higher income? Would that be progress?
(Not sure I'm buying the DS explanation BTW....)
Chopstick17 · 08/10/2016 17:36

Why two votes? You haven't given a reason. So I see no reason why they should unless you can give me a good argument as to why. On the surface it seems a very ageist thing to do.

apricotdanish · 08/10/2016 17:59

Thank you, Andrewofgg!GrinGrin
We've had a similar discussion Amelia, but point takenSmile.

rollonthesummer · 08/10/2016 18:03

I know it seems obvious to say no but give explanations as to why you think no

Why don't YOU give explanations as to why people might say yes?!

SinisterBumFacedCat · 08/10/2016 18:08

No, unfortunately many 16-24 year olds don't make use of their one vote, which is a shame. Policy makers know they can easily disregard them, leading to the unbalanced society we have today.

I do think voting age should be lowered to 16, I'd made my mind up at 14 and haven't wavered. If 16 year olds are deemed responsible enough to leave home, have children and join the army, then Voting is not beyond their intelligence.

We need to give more information and more incentives to vote.

RufusTheSpartacusReindeer · 08/10/2016 18:10

apricot

Please pass my congratulations to your son

Very resourceful

RufusTheSpartacusReindeer · 08/10/2016 18:15

apricot

Dh would like to say to your son that he thinks that votes should be given different weightings/percentages depending on age

He has also said that no one should vote over 75 Hmm but i am ignoring that as now he is just being a wally

apricotdanish · 08/10/2016 19:57

(Not sure I'm buying the DS explanation BTW....) I'd say you'd be quite wise in not buying the Digital Spy explanation, garlic! WinkThank you for the further points, same to you and your lovely husband Rufus Smile

ZazieCats · 08/10/2016 21:13

One person, one vote, anything else is both ridiculous and will also lead to all kinds of abuses later.

Would make voting compulsory though. With options for "None of the above" or "New election"

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