Miliband sets out votes at 16 timetable

Ed Miliband had already announced that Labour would introduces votes for 16 year olds if elected next year, but today he’s confirmed that a Labour government will introduce legislation in the first session of the next parliament to give the vote to 1.5 million young people – in time for the elections in 2016.

Miliband – speaking at a Bite the Ballot Leaders Live event with YouTube and ITV News – also said that Labour is committed to ensuring that schools, colleges and universities do everything possible for students to be registered to vote by implementing the “schools initiative” (whereby all secondary schools and further education colleges would be required to give the electoral registration officer (ERO) the information needed, with individual consent, to add that institution’s students to the electoral register). Here’s what he said:

“Britain will only succeed as a country if we give our young people the chance to fulfil their potential and play their part. And when decisions are being taken which affect their future, a democratic country like ours should ensure that they have their voice heard. Too many young people are turning their backs on politics which is bad for our country and bad for them too. That’s because too often young people don’t get a look-in with politicians who know they can’t vote –  or assume that they won’t vote.

The measures we will introduce in our first year of government represent the greatest extension of the franchise in my lifetime. But it is not enough just to give young people the right to vote. We must do everything we can to ensure they have the chance to exercise it. With more and more young people heading off to study or moving home, it is vital that new rules on electoral registration do not deter them getting the chance to vote.”