SNP’s Mhairi Black: Lack of young voter engagement ‘troubling’ ahead of first Holyrood vote at 16+

A new poll showing those under 24 are the least likely to vote in May’s Scottish parliament election is “troubling” according to SNP MP Mhairi Black.

A recent TNS-BRMB poll showed 62 per cent of those aged 16-24 are ‘certain to vote, compared with 82 per cent of those aged 55-64.

And in yesterday’s Survation poll for the Daily Record, only 48.8 per cent of 16-34 year olds say they ‘would definitely vote’ in the election.

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Black, who is the youngest MP at Westminster at just 21, said the findings were “troubling” and urged young people to register to vote.

“We can’t let the new spirit of engagement which was unleashed during the referendum fall by the wayside – that’s why I’m urging everyone in Scotland, but particularly our young people, to ensure that they are registered to vote and that their voices are heard and their priorities listened to over the next three months,” she said.

This is the first election in the UK where 16 and 17 year olds are entitled to vote, after a strong turnout in the independence referendum led to unanimous support in Scotland for extending the franchise for the Holyrood elections.

But although there was cross-party support for votes at 16 in Scotland, the House of Commons voted against extending the franchise for the forthcoming referendum on EU membership.