Voting at 16 – lessons for the future from the Scottish Referendum

Hill, M., Lockyer, A., Head, G. and McDonald, C. A. (2017) Voting at 16 – lessons for the future from the Scottish Referendum. Scottish Affairs, 26(1), pp. 48-68. (doi: 10.3366/scot.2017.0163)

Abstract

The 2014 Referendum on Scottish independence raised many issues about the future of Scotland. It also produced an innovation as regards the electoral process by making 16 years the minimum age of participation. This article examines issues surrounding the voting age and draws on a schools-based study, which shed light on teacher and pupil opinion about this lower than usual threshold for voting. It is also concerned with how schools cover the teaching of politics and prepared students for the Referendum debate within a context of expected neutrality on a highly divisive matter. Some implications of extending the lower voting age for future elections are discussed.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Hill, Professor Malcolm and Head, Dr George and Lockyer, Professor Andrew
• Authors: Hill, M., Lockyer, A., Head, G., and McDonald, C. A.
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > School of Education > Social Justice Place and Lifelong Education; College of Social Sciences > School of Social and Political Sciences > Politics; College of Social Sciences > School of Social and Political Sciences > Social Work
• Journal Name: Scottish Affairs
• Publisher: Edinburgh University Press
• ISSN: 0966-0356
• ISSN (Online): 2053-888X
• Published Online: 01 January 2017
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2017 Edinburgh University Press
• First Published: First published in Scottish Affairs 26(1): 48-68
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy