Ethnicity and age in regards to the vote
What issues have there been historically and remain today in the UK in
relation to ethnicity and political representation?
● Significantly and historically underrepresented in politics
● It took until 1987 for the first people of colour to be elected as MPs in a fully democratic UK
● Around 10% of MPs from a minority ethnic background
● The electoral commission reported in November 2019 that 25% of black votes in GB and 24% of Asian
votes had not registered to vote
● The government does not commit to reporting ethnicity data at the ethnic subgroup level
● The majority of the 52 ethnic minority MPs elected in 2017 came from a similar class background to
their white counterparts
Age and the right to vote:
● The decision was to extend the vote to 18- 20 year olds was much more about responding to social
change
● The Latey Committee
○ Set up in 1965 to investigate lowering the age of majority to 18 from 21
○ The original remit was to look at issues such as marriage and property ownership but its report
published in 1967 also recommended lowering the voting age
○ The government accepted its findings and the laws were changed in 1969
○ The change also took place in a decade widely associated with social and political reform, and
liberalization in several areas, including abortion, homosexuality and capital punishment
● Historical issues surrounding age:
○ In 1918 the age was 21 for men and 30 for women and property qualifications
○ Due to WW2, it caused 18-year-olds to be more independent in university, marriage, renting and
buying houses caused them to act like an adult so they should have the same rights
What historical pieces of legislation tackled age and vote issues?
● 1918 The age to vote was 21 for men and 30 for women
● 1928 The age to vote was 21 for all
● 1969 Representation of the People Act reduced the voting age from 21 to 18
● 2015 Scottish Elections (Reduction of Voting Age) Act 2015 reduced the voting age to 16 at elections
for membership of the Scottish Parliament and Local government elections for connected purposes
What is the ongoing debate around age and the right to vote? And lowering
the voting age to 16:
● For:
○ Gives the youth a voice in their future country
○ Old enough to reproduce, pay tax and join the army yet do not have the right to vote
○ Could reduce immaturity
○ Improve turnout
○ Other countries have the right to vote at 16
What issues have there been historically and remain today in the UK in
relation to ethnicity and political representation?
● Significantly and historically underrepresented in politics
● It took until 1987 for the first people of colour to be elected as MPs in a fully democratic UK
● Around 10% of MPs from a minority ethnic background
● The electoral commission reported in November 2019 that 25% of black votes in GB and 24% of Asian
votes had not registered to vote
● The government does not commit to reporting ethnicity data at the ethnic subgroup level
● The majority of the 52 ethnic minority MPs elected in 2017 came from a similar class background to
their white counterparts
Age and the right to vote:
● The decision was to extend the vote to 18- 20 year olds was much more about responding to social
change
● The Latey Committee
○ Set up in 1965 to investigate lowering the age of majority to 18 from 21
○ The original remit was to look at issues such as marriage and property ownership but its report
published in 1967 also recommended lowering the voting age
○ The government accepted its findings and the laws were changed in 1969
○ The change also took place in a decade widely associated with social and political reform, and
liberalization in several areas, including abortion, homosexuality and capital punishment
● Historical issues surrounding age:
○ In 1918 the age was 21 for men and 30 for women and property qualifications
○ Due to WW2, it caused 18-year-olds to be more independent in university, marriage, renting and
buying houses caused them to act like an adult so they should have the same rights
What historical pieces of legislation tackled age and vote issues?
● 1918 The age to vote was 21 for men and 30 for women
● 1928 The age to vote was 21 for all
● 1969 Representation of the People Act reduced the voting age from 21 to 18
● 2015 Scottish Elections (Reduction of Voting Age) Act 2015 reduced the voting age to 16 at elections
for membership of the Scottish Parliament and Local government elections for connected purposes
What is the ongoing debate around age and the right to vote? And lowering
the voting age to 16:
● For:
○ Gives the youth a voice in their future country
○ Old enough to reproduce, pay tax and join the army yet do not have the right to vote
○ Could reduce immaturity
○ Improve turnout
○ Other countries have the right to vote at 16
