Dear party leaders,
Following the unanimous decision of the Scottish Parliament to lower the voting age in Scotland to 16, it's time that England, Wales and Northern Ireland caught up.
Evidence from the Scottish independence referendum shows that 16- and 17-year-olds are more than capable of engaging with political issues, and have higher rates of turnout than 18- to 24-year-olds.
We are facing an impending turn-out crisis, as each generation votes less than the last. If young people are registered early and get into the habit of voting, we will see lasting improvements in voter turnout. If they vote early, they vote often. We call on you to help build a better democracy by extending the franchise to 16 and 17 year olds.