Scottish Independence... What are your thoughts?

[PetBazaar]

pets, just out of interest, are 16 & 17 year olds in scotland being allowed to vote in the general election as they were in the referendum?

Short Answer: No

Long Answer: Elections are a reserved matter. An enabling order was passed granting Holyrood the right to amend the law specifically for the referendum. However, as with virtually everything to do with devolution, it's a bit of a slippery slope. A Section 30 Order (which basically allows the existing Scotland Act to be amended) is in the pipeline allowing Holyrood to change the law to allow 16 & 17 year old voters in the 2016 Scottish Elections. There's pressure to have that granted at the Privy Council in March. And the slippery sliding doesn't stop there. Labour, LibDem (EDIT: Green, Plaid Cymru) and SNP are all in favour (at least, at the moment). So it's entirely possible that it may be in place for the 2020 UK General Election depending on who wins in May.

[HobbyHabitat]

Short Answer: No

Long Answer: Elections are a reserved matter. An enabling order was passed granting Holyrood the right to amend the law specifically for the referendum. However, as with virtually everything to do with devolution, it's a bit of a slippery slope. A Section 30 Order (which basically allows the existing Scotland Act to be amended) is in the pipeline allowing Holyrood to change the law to allow 16 & 17 year old voters in the 2016 Scottish Elections. There's pressure to have that granted at the Privy Council in March. And the slippery sliding doesn't stop there. Labour, LibDem and SNP are all in favour (at least, at the moment). So it's entirely possible that it may be in place for the 2020 UK General Election depending on who wins in May.

thank you, food for thought there.

[tonyreddevil]

me too