Voting age 'too young' says MHK

Most countries in the world have a minimum voting age of 18

Sixteen-year-olds are too young to be given the responsibility that comes with the right to vote, Ramsey MHK Anne Craine has said.

Isle of Man ministers agreed to lower the voting age from 18 to 16 at the House of Keys last week.

Members voted by 19 to four in favour of an amendment to the Registration of Electors Bill, proposed by former Education Minister Steve Rodan.

But Mrs Craine said giving 16-year-olds the vote was just an extra burden.

"I think that we are hell bent on giving young people adult responsibilities," she said.

"With the right to vote comes responsibilities. Normally when you reach the age of majority, which is 18 or 21, that is generally accepted that that is the age of adulthood.

"I think we need to have a little bit of caution about where we are introducing this level of adulthood to our young people."