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A leading political pressure group has demanded the UK Government follows Scotland’s lead and reduces the voting age.

The Scottish Government extended the franchise to 16 and 17-year-olds in the run-up to the 2014 independence referendum.

The Electoral Reform Society is now calling for new legislation to see the measure extended across the UK.

Executive director Darren Hughes said: “It is time to learn from the success of votes at 16 in Scotland and embrace a fairer franchise for the whole UK.

“When they vote, 16 and 17-year-olds actually have higher rates of turnout in Scotland than 18 to 24-year-olds.

“In the 2014 Scottish independence referendum, turnout among 16 to 18-year-olds was 75 per cent, with 97 per cent of those who voted saying they’d vote in future elections.

"Evidence has shown they accessed more information ahead of the vote from a wider variety of sources than any other age group – showing 16-year-olds are more than ready to engage in the democratic process in an enthusiastic and informed way.”

Hughes also called for Westminster’s first-past-the-post voting system to be abolished in favour of proportional representation system, like the one used in Scotland.

It means smaller parties gain some representation to reflect the overall percentage of the vote that they won.

He added: “Two-party, first-past-the-post politics is not working for voters or this country, as the current Brexit deadlock has highlighted.

“The existing system is meant to produce ‘strong and stable’ government – but the reality is that voters want to shop around more than ever.

“The result is volatile voting leading to random results – and increasing disillusionment among voters.

“A proportional voting system would not only give voters real choice but would encourage parties to work together .

“Adopting the model for elections in Scotland and Northern Ireland would ensure every vote counts and revitalise politics for good.”

Earlier this month, MPs in the Commons debated extending the vote to 16 and 17-year-olds, with broad cross-party support.

The Scottish Government said: “Lowering the voting age to 16 has enhanced political debate and it is inspiring that young people are engaged, interested and ready to take action.”