Young mayor of Enfield Omari Green looks at whether 16-year-olds like him are ready for the responsibility of voting

Omari Green outside Enfield Civic Centre (credit Kai Images)

The decision to lower the voting age to 16 in England and Northern Ireland has sparked both excitement and concern.

Some argue it empowers young people to have a real say in their future, while others question whether teenagers are ready for such responsibility. As a 16-year-old and the current Young Mayor of Enfield, I find myself navigating both sides of this debate.

On the one hand, I welcome the recognition of youth voices. On the other hand, I understand people’s concerns, because 16 is still very young. Many of us are still finding our place in the world. Research suggests that brain development continues into our 20s, particularly in areas linked to decision-making and self-control.

But while this is still ongoing at 16, it doesn’t mean we can’t make informed choices; what it highlights is that, like adults, our decisions can sometimes be shaped by emotions, peers, and wider influences.

This raises a key question: if voting is one of the most serious civic responsibilities, should it be entrusted to those still learning to navigate independence? Voting requires thinking beyond ourselves, to consider society as a whole. Some argue that many 16-year-olds are not yet ready for this duty.

Yet dismissing young people’s capacity altogether is unfair. Many 16-year-olds already carry responsibilities by having jobs and paying taxes. At 16, we are considered old enough to marry, join the armed forces and work full-time.

Many of us care deeply about issues like climate change, tuition fees, and the housing crisis. Giving us a vote ensures those most affected have a say in shaping the future.

As young mayor, I have seen politics up close. Sitting in parliamentary-style debates, I have observed how parties clash over policies. This experience has strengthened my passion for politics and my ambition to become a politician. But would the new votes at 16 law force me to pick a political party? I enjoy exploring different perspectives and do not yet feel tied to one ideology. Lowering the voting age risks pressuring young people to pick sides too soon, turning curiosity into obligation.

Another concern is how easily young people can be influenced. At 16, we are shaped by media, adults, and our peers. Opinions can shift quickly during debates or on social media. While influence is not unique to young people, our age makes us more impressionable.

Yet influence is part of democracy. What matters is learning to question, research, and think

critically. Including young people in elections could accelerate that learning. In Scotland, when the voting age was lowered in 2014 for the independence referendum, turnout for 16- and 17-year-olds was over 75% – higher than for young adults. It shows young people can be responsible when trusted.

Lowering the voting age gives my generation a chance to shape discussions on issues affecting us most. As young mayor, I have seen how passionate young people are when given the chance to be heard. This reform could normalise decision-making from an early age.

Speaking to my peers for this article, one said lowering the voting age would make politics more “real” to them, another said anyone old enough to work and pay taxes should also be able to vote, but one also said they feared uninformed 16-year-olds would “just vote like their parents”

I think there is room for compromise. I would support a ‘youth vote’ which would be separate from

an adult vote, but equally valid. This would allow young people to participate without immediate pressure to swing national outcomes. It could serve as a trial, helping us practise decision-making while still being recognised as an important contribution.

Such a system balances concerns about maturity with the need to empower youth voices. It would also give politicians reason to take us seriously, knowing our collective voice cannot be ignored.

Lowering the voting age to 16 is bold and controversial. While concerns about maturity, influence, and responsibility are real, the benefits of engaging young people in democracy are compelling.

Evidence from Scotland and Austria shows that when young people are trusted with the vote, they participate responsibly. As someone passionate about politics, I believe this reform could inspire my generation and reshape civic participation. What matters most is that our voices, the voices of the future are finally being heard.

This article is published with support from Local Motion Enfield, part of a UK-wide movement for community-led change

LocalMotion Enfield is part of a UK-wide movement for community-led change – we're proud to partner with Enfield Dispatch to share local voices and stories

No news is bad news

Independent news outlets like ours – reporting for the community without rich backers – are under threat of closure, turning British towns into news deserts.

The audiences they serve know less, understand less, and can do less.

If our coverage has helped you understand our community a little bit better, please consider supporting us with a monthly, yearly or one-off donation.

Choose the news. Don’t lose the news.

Monthly direct debit

Annual direct debit

£5 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else, £10 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else and a print copy posted to them each month. £50 annual supporters get a digital copy of each month's paper before anyone else.