Children to be allowed in polling stations

Tuesday, 10, Jan 2006 12:00

Children will be allowed to accompany their parents into polling stations, under a bill being debated in parliament.

Currently under-18s are prohibited from entering polling stations by law, but ministers believe teaching children how to vote is an important means of encouraging them to do so when they are of voting age.

Elections minister Harriet Harman said: "An important part of getting people involved in democracy is for children to see their parents actually cast their vote.

"The electoral administration bill will enable parents to show their children how to vote and teach their children democracy in practice."

The Electoral Commission estimates about 16 per cent of 18- to 24-year-olds are not registered to vote.

Only 37 per cent of the registered voters in the same age group voted at the last general election, compared to 75 per cent of the over-65s.