Votes at 16
Created by Karen Devlin
Status Ongoing
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Started Campaign
3rd Mar 2012
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Update
progress
10th Oct 2011
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Update
progress
Voting age to drop in Scotland
10th Oct 2011
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Target
Launch Campaign
17th Oct 2011
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Target
Debate in Assembly on Votes at 16
17th Oct 2011
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Update
progress
19th Oct 2011
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Target
Get 30 Supporters
10th Nov 2011
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Target
Get Support from 2 MPs
10th Nov 2011
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Target
Get support from 10 MLAs
10th Dec 2011
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Update
progress
24th Feb 2012
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Target
Hold Debate with Public and Politicians
10th Apr 2012
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Target
Cross Community Assembly Support for Votes at 16 in Principle
10th Apr 2012
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- Now
Our Goal
To pressure the NI Assembly to formally debate the issue
Why support my campaign?
If you can get a job at 16, pay tax at 16, join the armed forces at 16, get married, set up a home at 16 then surely you should be able to vote at 16. While the Northern Ireland Assembly does not have the power to reduce the voting age in Northern Ireland, it should still debate the issue, talk to young people about how we feel about it, and escalate it through legal channels.
Our Targets
- Cross Community Assembly Support for Votes at 16 in Principle within 6 months
- Debate in Assembly on Votes at 16 within 1 week
- Hold Debate with Public and Politicians within 6 months
- Get Support from 2 MPs within 1 month
- Get support from 10 MLAs within 2 months
- Get 30 Supporters within 1 month
- Launch Campaign within 1 week
Campaign Updates
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Week of Action!
24th February -
Article for the Newsletter
19th October -
Voting age to drop in Scotland
10th October -
Kicking off
10th October
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Week of Action!
Posted on February 24th, 2012
The Votes a2 16 campaign have announced that 5th to 11th March will be the Votes at 16 Action Week, and we need you to help us shout about it!
Here’s what they say:“Action Week is all about promoting the campaign, drumming-up support, and most importantly getting signatures on the Votes at 16 e-petition. There are already over 1,000 signatures but we want to reach at least 20,000 before the week is over.
“Throughout the week and in the run up to it, we will be supporting campaigners across the UK to take action online by adding their name to the petition, and within their schools, colleges and local communities by promoting the campaign and collecting signatures for the petition.
Help us make this week of action a success by printing off the Votes at 16 petition sheet, and using the following sample tweets, Facebook posts and web copy to promote the Votes at 16 Action Week to your supporters and networks. Let’s show we’re ready for Votes at 16!”Find out how you can take action at the Votes @ 16 web site [http://www.votesat16.org/get-involved/week-of-action-5-11-march/]
Tell policitians this matters
Dear [Politician's name],
I am writing to you to support WIMPS campaign to lover the voting age to 16.
In the UK, the age of consent is 16. People can marry at 16. They can join the army and pay taxes at 16.
WIMPS are campaigning to introduce Voting at 16 in Northern Ireland. Young people are affected by every law other citizens live under. Young people are fellow citizens and we believe should be consulted on the laws that affect them.
Reducing the voting age would widen the pool of democracy. There is an argument that 16 year olds would not make informed decisions. Does every person over the age of 18 make an informed decision?
Young people should not feel alienated by politics and politicians. And there is evidence from Europe that young people will participate given the chance. In 1996 in the German city Hanover, for example, there was a 56.5% turnout of 16 and 17 year olds. 41.1% of the 18 to 24 age group turned out to vote.
I am writing to ask you to support our campaign to lower the voting age to 16.
Thank you
Yours sincerely,
[your name]
Please
to send this lobby letter
What do you think?