Scotland’s young voters

Scotland’s young voters

Advertisement

Teenagers aged 16 to 17 will be among the ranks of Scots going to the polls this September to cast their ballots in their country’s independence referendum.

Thanks to a one-off lowering of the voting age – which normally stands at 18 – these adolescents will play a role in determining whether Scotland ends its centuries-old union with the rest of the United Kingdom. Reuters asked some of the youngsters how they will vote.

. Glasgow, United Kingdom. Reuters/Paul Hackett

School student Amy McKenzie Smith (pictured above) is not in favour of succession. She says there is no reason for Scotland to be independent and thinks ''everything could end up a mess''.

While McKenzie Smith is certainly not representative of all Scottish teens, she also doesn’t seem to be an outlier.

Dropping the voting age to 16 was lauded as a masterstroke in the Scottish nationalist battle for independence, but Reuters interviews with 25 teenagers in 10 different locations and two opinion polls suggest the Scottish National Party (SNP) may not be able to count on their vote.

. FRASERBURGH, United Kingdom. Reuters/Paul Hackett

Overall, polls show Scots remain doubtful about separation from the rest of the United Kingdom, though the proportion of those supporting independence has increased over the past year and many are still undecided.

The only major survey of young Scots, by researchers at Edinburgh University and financed by the state-funded Economic and Social Research Council in May last year, found 60 percent of 1,000 14-17 year olds opposed independence with 21 percent support.

A poll of 1,500 older students at Glasgow Caledonian University this year found 63 percent wanted to stay in the United Kingdom.

Sixteen-year-old Danny Hutcheson, pictured above, is among those who says he will be voting No.

"I'm unsure what would happen with a Yes vote," said the teenager from Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire, who plays the bagpipes in a local pipe band.

. ISLAY, United Kingdom. Reuters/Paul Hackett

Nevertheless there are many Scottish teenagers who would like to see their country split from the rest of the UK.

Seventeen-year-old Ewan Aitken, shown posing for a photograph by a whisky distillery on the Scottish island of Islay, is one of them.

Aitken says he will vote Yes to independence because he feels Scotland sees 'nothing back' from resources like whisky.

Others in his age group said they are keen for independence because they see the advantage of oil-rich Scotland running its own policies rather than being directed by politicians from London, or they think independence will create more opportunities for young people.

. AULDEARN, United Kingdom. Reuters/Paul Hackett

Sixteen-year-old Hannah Campbell, whose family runs a farm at Auldearn in Inverness-shire in the Highlands, is in the opposite camp.

She fears an independent Scotland would lose its voice on the world stage and thinks the country stands to gain more out of the European Union if it stayed in the United Kingdom.

"I will vote No as I think that our country is fine the way it is and we don't need such dramatic change," she said.

Hers is one of many competing opinions. But the unionists and secessionists agree on one thing: with a large number of votes still undecided, a relatively small group of voters could still swing the election either way.

1 / 17

Slideshow

Sean Sutherland, 16, said he will vote No in the referendum because he believes Scotland will be better off as part of the Union.
. OBAN, United Kingdom. Reuters/Paul Hackett

Sean Sutherland, 16, said he will vote No in the referendum because he believes Scotland will be better off as part of the Union.

Sophie Johnstone, 16, pictured posing on the suspension bridge in Dumfries, southwest Scotland, is still undecided as to how she will vote.
. DUMFRIES, United Kingdom. Reuters/Paul Hackett

Sophie Johnstone, 16, pictured posing on the suspension bridge in Dumfries, southwest Scotland, is still undecided as to how she will vote.

Megan McKay, 16, says she will be voting Yes to independence. “I think it will provide better opportunities for young people including students,” she said.
. MACDUFF, United Kingdom. Reuters/Paul Hackett

Megan McKay, 16, says she will be voting Yes to independence. “I think it will provide better opportunities for young people including students,” she said.

Sixteen-year-old Ailsa Nairn is active in the independence campaign. She said "I am voting Yes as I think it is the best option for Scotland and it's something I have always wanted.”
. HAWICK, United Kingdom. Reuters/Paul Hackett

Sixteen-year-old Ailsa Nairn is active in the independence campaign. She said "I am voting Yes as I think it is the best option for Scotland and it's something I have always wanted.”

Zeth Clarkson, 16 and originally from Cumbria in northern England, will be voting yes to independence. "I think Scotland will cope better with the economy on their own," she said.
. HAWICK, United Kingdom. Reuters/Paul Hackett

Zeth Clarkson, 16 and originally from Cumbria in northern England, will be voting yes to independence. "I think Scotland will cope better with the economy on their own," she said.

School student Laura McKenzie says she will be voting No to independence: "I don't see any benefits to it and I don't think that Scotland needs that big a change."
. EDINBURGH, United Kingdom. Reuters/Paul Hackett

School student Laura McKenzie says she will be voting No to independence: "I don't see any benefits to it and I don't think that Scotland needs that big a change."

Ninian Gibson,16, says she will vote against independence. "Though I think Scotland should have full control over its own affairs, I think that the UK is an important force in the world that it should be kept united," she said.
. EDINBURGH, United Kingdom. Reuters/Paul Hackett

Ninian Gibson,16, says she will vote against independence. "Though I think Scotland should have full control over its own affairs, I think that the UK is an important force in the world that it should be kept united," she said.

School student Katie Cocozza says at the moment she thinks she will vote No to independence. "There is a lack of engagement within my year group and we haven't seen much campaign material from each of the political parties explaining their position and the effects it would have specifically for my generation," she said.
. LINLITHGOW, United Kingdom. Reuters/Paul Hackett

School student Katie Cocozza says at the moment she thinks she will vote No to independence. "There is a lack of engagement within my year group and we haven't seen much campaign material from each of the political parties explaining their position and the effects it would have specifically for my generation," she said.

Liam Collins, 16, who is currently looking for work or opportunities in further education said: "I will vote Yes because I believe it will give Scotland a better chance and more jobs for young people. I talk about this mainly with my Dad and he is voting No."
. EDINBURGH, United Kingdom. Reuters/Paul Hackett

Liam Collins, 16, who is currently looking for work or opportunities in further education said: "I will vote Yes because I believe it will give Scotland a better chance and more jobs for young people. I talk about this mainly with my Dad and he is voting No."

Leanne Wharton, 16, says she will vote Yes as she thinks an independent Scotland will have more freedom.
. HAWICK, United Kingdom. Reuters/Paul Hackett

Leanne Wharton, 16, says she will vote Yes as she thinks an independent Scotland will have more freedom.

Kieran Green, 16, is undecided as to how he will vote at the moment. "You will have to look hard to find someone more patriotic than me, and when it all came about a few years ago I was all for independence. But growing up and maturing has made me re-think. My heart says Yes, but my head says No," he said.
. EDINBURGH, United Kingdom. Reuters/Paul Hackett

Kieran Green, 16, is undecided as to how he will vote at the moment. "You will have to look hard to find someone more patriotic than me, and when it all came about a few years ago I was all for independence. But growing up and maturing has made me re-think. My heart says Yes, but my head says No," he said.

Simon Fraser, 16, says he will vote Yes in the referendum "because of the opportunities it will give in the future." He says he talks with his friends about the referendum and they have very mixed views on the subject.
. EASDALE, United Kingdom. Reuters/Paul Hackett

Simon Fraser, 16, says he will vote Yes in the referendum "because of the opportunities it will give in the future." He says he talks with his friends about the referendum and they have very mixed views on the subject.

Yasmin Gray, 16, (left) and Leonie Matthews (who will be 16 at the time of the vote) pose for a photograph as they go to a friend's 16th birthday party. Yasmin is still undecided and Leonie says she will be voting No to independence.
. NAIRN, United Kingdom. Reuters/Paul Hackett

Yasmin Gray, 16, (left) and Leonie Matthews (who will be 16 at the time of the vote) pose for a photograph as they go to a friend's 16th birthday party. Yasmin is still undecided and Leonie says she will be voting No to independence.

Saffron Dickson, 16, photographed in Glasgow City centre, is active in the Radical Independence Campaign. "It's crazy not to have self determination," she said. "We need complete control over everything. It's the only way the Scottish people can make decisions for themselves and not by an out of touch government.''
. GLASGOW, United Kingdom. Reuters/Paul Hackett

Saffron Dickson, 16, photographed in Glasgow City centre, is active in the Radical Independence Campaign. "It's crazy not to have self determination," she said. "We need complete control over everything. It's the only way the Scottish people can make decisions for themselves and not by an out of touch government.''

Lachlan Eggo, 16, from Dumfries, southwest Scotland poses for a photograph in the border town of Gretna Green. Eggo is undecided as to how he will vote and said that independence isn't really a topic of conversation amongst his friends at school.
. DUMFRIES, United Kingdom. Reuters/Paul Hackett

Lachlan Eggo, 16, from Dumfries, southwest Scotland poses for a photograph in the border town of Gretna Green. Eggo is undecided as to how he will vote and said that independence isn't really a topic of conversation amongst his friends at school.

School student Jack Capener said he will vote No to Independence because of "concerns over currency, as I think that it is unlikely that Scotland will get either the pound or the euro." He also talked about a lack of faith in Scottish Nationalist leader Alex Salmond's plans.
. EDINBURGH, United Kingdom. Reuters/Paul Hackett

School student Jack Capener said he will vote No to Independence because of "concerns over currency, as I think that it is unlikely that Scotland will get either the pound or the euro." He also talked about a lack of faith in Scottish Nationalist leader Alex Salmond's plans.

Zak Clarkson poses for a photograph outside Lochend amatuer boxing club in Edinburgh. He said he will vote against independence because he thinks "we are stronger together as GB [Great Britain], especially in things like the Olympics. I also think we have a better army within GB."
. EDINBURGH, United Kingdom. Reuters/Paul Hackett

Zak Clarkson poses for a photograph outside Lochend amatuer boxing club in Edinburgh. He said he will vote against independence because he thinks "we are stronger together as GB [Great Britain], especially in things like the Olympics. I also think we have a better army within GB."