The Votes at 16 Coalition campaigns for 16 and 17 year olds to be able to vote in all UK public elections. Launched in 2003, the Coalition is made up of many leading youth and democracy organisations from across the UK. The Votes at 16 campaign is supported by thousands of young people and people of all ages, as well as politicians of all parties and institutions like the Welsh Assembly and the Scottish Parliament.

Voting is the way we choose those who represent us and make decisions on our behalf – and how we hold them to account for those decisions. 16 year olds are increasingly treated like adults and expected to take their responsibilities seriously – now it’s time 16 year olds were given the respect and the right that every citizen deserves.

Over 1.5 million 16 and 17 year olds are denied the vote in the United Kingdom. For years there has been a consistent demand from young people for Votes at 16, and a clear case for change. That case is now overwhelming.

At 16, we can leave school, work full time and pay taxes, leave home, get married, join the armed forces, and make lots of decisions about our future.
At 16, people become adults and take control of their own futures - so why can't we have the basic right of all adult citizens of a say in how the country is run?
We're all interested in issues; from climate change to racism, from education to crime. Voting is the fundamental way that we have our say on issues, and we think that at 16, young people are mature enough to be properly listened to.

Stopping 16 and 17 year olds from voting and having the chance to be heard sends a signal to them and to society, especially politicians, that our views aren't valid and that we aren't real citizens. At a time when people feel that politics isn't relevant to them, young people need to be encouraged to take part in democracy, not kept out from it.

Citizenship education, youth engagement campaigns and high-speed interactive media have made this generation the most politically aware and educated ever, but the number of people taking part in politics just keeps on dropping. It's time we recognised the abilities of 16 year olds, including them in society and showing them the trust and respect that society expects of them.