Voting Age

Part of 1. Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Education – in the Senedd at 2:13 pm on 17 October 2018.

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Photo of Kirsty Williams Kirsty Williams Liberal Democrat 2:13, 17 October 2018

Well, Andrew, I don't disagree with you. As I said, we are using the experience of Scotland to guide us in this particular area. So, we are working with the Electoral Commission, who have a duty to provide public information on all elections. The Electoral Commission is developing a toolkit to help people register because that's an important part of the process, that young people understand the need to register to use their right to vote. So, we're in regular contact with them, and we will be discussing a public information campaign to register young voters, as well as looking at the evidence of Scotland, where Education Scotland actually produced materials for schools to be used in schools ahead of the referendum, to help teachers guide their students.

As I said, under the current curriculum, there is provision within the PSE element to be able to provide young people with these opportunities. I'm sure there are Members across the Chamber, of all political colours, who regularly attend visits in schools to talk to young people, as well as using the opportunity, like I did last week, to visit the Llangynidr Brownies to talk to young people about the history—in this case, the history of women voting—and why it's important to be a voter and why that matters. And I'm sure all Members—I think we all have a personal responsibility, as each of our parties has a political responsibility also, to be able to afford young people these opportunities. But I will write to the Member with more details of the work that is going to be undertaken in line with the Electoral Commission.FootnoteLink