Roshni Ray talks to young people at Unitas Youth Zone about the government’s plans to give votes to 16-year-olds

A young woman and a young man on some decks — Young people at Unitas – (Credit – Unitas)

The government announced in the summer that they would lower the voting age to 16 by 2029. This means that, for the first time, approximately 10,000 in Barnet 16 and 17-year-olds may have a say in the next general election.

Barnet Post visited Unitas Youth Zone in Edgware to find out what some of the borough’s young people think about the new voting age.

For Laila, 16, the answer is complicated. “Some 16 and 17 year olds are more grown up than others,” she said. “Personally for me, I feel like I’ll be able to vote, because I’m more mature. But for some people, I don’t think they should be able to vote depending on their age.”

Still, she believes that most of her friends would be “equipped to vote” and are politically well-versed. She said youngsters would be more interested in voting if politicians spoke more directly to their age group. Jeremy Corbyn stands out for her: “He really speaks to young people and promises benefits for young people in our country, which is more likely to make people vote for him.”

When asked about local politicians that stood out to her, she said “I don’t really have one that comes to mind. All I know is David Pinto-Duschinsky. I see him posting on Facebook helping the local community. Like teaming up with people in our community, helping with litter, environmental causes as well.”

For others, like Hala, 13, political engagement is still a work in progress. When asked what she would want to change if she had a say in politics, she said: “Edgware isn’t a safe place. People getting stabbed, taken advantage of, people’s phones get stolen… I don’t think the whole of the UK is safe actually.”

The recurring concern among many is that 16 and 17 year olds might not know enough about local politics to make their vote count, if they vote at all. Older voices echoed the need for more outreach and education.

Matilda, 24, believes voting at 16 could “give them the motivation to learn about politics more,” while her friend Josie, 21, agreed that it would give young people “the chance to express their opinions.”

Blanca R. Fernandez, sessional youth worker for arts and crafts at Unitas Youth Zone, sees another gap that goes beyond the proposed voting age. She stressed the lack of services for people with special needs over 25. While she believes politics matters, she insists that “it’s down to the people ultimately to do anything, to build communities” and “push for intervention projects that bridge social gaps.”

Across all these conversations, the problem of engagement keeps coming up. How can 16 and 17 year olds vote responsibly if they don’t know who their representatives are? Whether it’s creating more youth centres, improving safety, or bringing politics into education, the youth of Barnet agree that with the right to vote there must be the right kind of outreach.

“MPs should physically visit schools to make their presence known and talk to us. To get familiar with us so they can form a deeper connection and get to know us more and [we] vote for them in the future,” says Laila.

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