Year 8 - Citizenship
Should 16- and 17-year-olds be allowed to vote in elections?
Why was the struggle for the vote important today?
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Study Guides
This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
Pupils analyse how political rights have changed over time considering important campaigns such as the fight for female suffrage. They examine why voting matters and consider what role they can have in democracy prior to being eligible to vote.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to explain arguments for and against allowing 16- and 17-year-olds to vote in general elections and formulate your own opinion on the issue.
Key Notes
- You can vote in elections if you meet the eligibility criteria including age, citizenship, and residency.
- You cannot vote in a general election until you are 18.
- There are certain things you can do at 16, for example, apply for a passport or open a bank account.
- There are other things you have to be 18 to do, for example, get a tattoo or get married.
- The discussion on lowering the voting age to 16 is complex and can be divisive with strong arguments on both sides.
Vocabulary To Learn
- vote: a formal way of making a choice or decision
- election: the voting process to select a person for a public position
- general election: when the citizens of a country (the electorate) vote to elect a new government; a general election in the UK happens at least every five years
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Currently no 16- and 17-year-olds have the right to vote in elections in the UK.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the lesson in two key points.
You can vote in elections if you meet the eligibility criteria including age, citizenship, and residency. You cannot vote in a general election until you are 18.
2. What does this key word mean in this lesson? 'vote'
a formal way of making a choice or decision.
3. Correct this common mistake.
Mistake: Currently no 16- and 17-year-olds have the right to vote in elections in the UK. Correction: In Scotland and Wales, you can vote from the age of 16 in Senedd, Scottish Parliament, and local elections.
More Lessons In This Unit
- How can we exercise democratic rights without a vote? Study Guide
- How did the Chartists affect the political rights we have today? Study Guide
- How have our political rights changed over time? Study Guide
- Which methods were most successful in the fight for female suffrage? Study Guide
- Why does voting matter? Study Guide
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