AM backs votes at 16

Gower Assembly Member, Rebecca Evans AM, is supporting plans to give more people a say in local democracy.
 
The plans reflect last year’s Welsh Government consultation on reforming the electoral system in Wales, which received almost 1,000 responses.
 
Under the proposals, 16 and 17 year olds would be given the right to vote in council elections, along with all foreign nationals legally resident in Wales. Automatic registration would help ensure fewer people were missed from the electoral register.
 
The Welsh Government also wants councils to pilot innovative new voting methods, which reflect people’s busy lives. These could include remote digital voting, mobile polling stations and voting at places like supermarkets, local libraries, leisure centres and railway stations.
  
Rebecca Evans AM said “These changes are about engaging people in the political process - especially younger voters. Young people have a full stake in our society and are impacted by the choices that we make, so it is only right that they have a say.
 
“I am also excited about exploring new ways of voting. Just because we have voted in a certain way in the past, doesn’t mean that is the only way.  People’s lives and lifestyles are varied, and it should be as easy as possible for them to vote in a secure and accessible way.”