You have to be 18 to vote in general elections in the UK, but this isn’t the case everywhere around the world.

In some elections in the UK, 16 and 17-year-olds are allowed to vote, such as for the Welsh and Scottish Parliaments.

But, young people are less likely to vote than older people.

Some people think if 16 and 17-year-olds vote, then the turnout (the percentage of people who vote) will go down. Others think that young people should be able to have a say on issues that affect them.

Download this debate here!

News is one of the greatest igniters of debate among children and adults alike. Being able to express one’s voice and listen to those of others is an essential skill at every stage of our lives. Schools across the UK have built a culture of communication by using First News Education’s debate topics as a basis for teaching oracy through classroom discussion, to successfully develop essential speech and communication skills. When pupils have access to reliable facts and context, they are given a platform to understand an issue in-depth, build their points of view and appreciate different perspectives from fellow pupils.

In our debates you can find:

• A thought-provoking debate topic
• Relevant background information, including historical and current contexts
• Issues to consider
• Opinions
• Topical imagery for engaging students
• Glossary of keywords used
• Quick summary of for/against arguments
• Questions for teachers to ask the class

Find out more about our educational resources at First News here.