extending the franchise

ways the franchise can be extended?

votes at 16

electronic voting

compulsory voting

prisoner voting

what enforced voter id?

the elections act 2022

what did the 1832 great reform act do?

middle class men could now vote

what did the 1884 third reform act do?

enfranchised virtually all male householders and tenants

what did the 1918 representation of the people act do?

almost universal manhood suffrage, and women over 30

what did the 1928 equal franchise act do?

made equal voting rights (21)

when was the voting age lowered to 18?

1969

when in the uk can 16 year olds vote?

local and parliamentary elections to scottish parliament or the senedd

global average voting age?

18.03 years old

strengths of votes at 16?

16 year olds can work full time and deserve representation

16/17 yo’s had 74% turnout in 2014 scottish independence referendum (18-24 yo’s at 54%)

forces politicians to take youth issues seriously

weaknesses of votes at 16?

turnout low in young voters

easily influenced

most democracies at 18

age turnout for 2024 election

37% of 18-24 year olds voted

73% of 65+ year olds voted

labour and votes at 16?

pledge in manifesto, but not in kings speech

can prisoners vote in scotland?

they can vote in local or regional elections if serving under 12 months

prisoner voting in other countries

denmark and finland allow it, however the US can permanently ban felons

strengths of prisoner voting

good for prisoner rehabilitation into society

lets prisoners make decisions about the society theyll live in

european court of human rights rules that the ban is against the human rights act

weaknesses of prisoner voting

why should people convicted of serious crimes help decide laws?

polls show arouund 2/3rds of brits oppose it

australian election 2022 turnout

90%

strengths of compulsory voting

increases turnout and therefore legitimacy

encourages political awareness

weaknesses of compulsory voting

voters may not be informed

takes away choice

how many invalid votes in australian 2022 election?

around 5% of ballots spoilt

turnout in the 2024 uk election?

59.8%

turnout in the 2001 uk election?

59.4%

turnout in the 1992 uk election?

77.7%

who would compulsory voting benefit?

young people as they tend to vote less

marginalised groups who feel ignored

who would compulsory voting not benefit?

people disinterested in politics could randomly vote, harming representation

electronic votes?

more accessible, especially for elders with health issues

may exclude some older voters due to technology

problems with hacking and fraud in estonia