46% Of MLAs Back Lower Voting Age

As the polls prepare to open for tomorrow's European election, it has been revealed almost half of Northern Ireland's Assembly members support lowering the voting age to 16.

According to a survey conducted by public affair firm Stratagem, 46% of our MLAs believe the right to vote should be extended to those over 16.

More striking, however, was the division expressed by unionist and nationalist politicians.

Around 84% of nationalist MLAs supported a reduction in age restrictions, compared to 17% from unionist camps.

The report was commissioned by the Where Is My Public Servant (WIMPS) project.

Paul Smyth of Public Achievement, which co-ordinates WIMPS, described the results as "very positive".

"Here we have clear evidence that nearly half of MLAs back the call to allow people to vote at 16. We believe that this number will grow as more and more of our representatives realise the important role that young people can play in society."

Prime Minister Gordon Brown recently announced the establishment of a new national democratic council which will look at lowering the voting age to 16.

Quintin Oliver of Stratagem added: "Organisations who commission questions find that these surveys are an invaluable way of tracking the positions of our politicians."

(PR/BMcC)