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Meeting of the Parliament 19 January 2012

19 Jan 2012 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament

Item of business

Local Government Elections 2012

Mitchell, Margaret Con Central Scotland Watch on SPTV

If Mr Robertson does not mind, I would like to make some progress.

As for helping to increase participation and turnout, according to the same Electoral Commission consultation, evidence suggests that lowering the voting age would decrease the overall percentage turnout in the short term because of the additional number of eligible but disengaged voters. Longer term effects are also disputed. The Electoral Commission has a vital role to play in ensuring fair, open, and transparent elections. For that reason, the Conservatives will support Sarah Boyack’s amendment.

The Conservative amendment notes that

“responsibility for the general administration and conduct of elections to local government is already devolved”

and supports that being extended to elections to the Scottish Parliament. The important point is that that would safeguard the consideration of UK constitutional issues on a consistent UK basis.

The mistakes made previously have been reviewed and it is to be hoped that the glitches have been resolved. It is crucial, however, for voters to have an understanding of the electoral system that is in operation, and of the powers and service provision for which local government is responsible and which affect the daily lives of people all over Scotland. Politicians and candidates must bear some responsibility for educating people and promoting policies that resonate with the electorate, thus motivating them to participate and turn out to vote.

Opposing school closures is a case in point. For example, the proposed closure of Earnock high school in Hamilton a number of years ago saw a vastly increased turnout at the polling stations with people queueing to vote. It resulted in the defeat of sitting local members who had voted for the proposition. That is an example of local democracy in action. The decisions that local authorities take about spending and cuts will also encourage those who are rightly opposed to, for example, the proposed closure of refuges for victims of domestic abuse in North Lanarkshire, or the same council’s decision to cut funding to the Bellshill citizens advice bureau for debt advice, to exercise their democratic right to register their protest at the ballot box.

There will be no shortage of live and contentious issues for local government candidates and other politicians to put to the electorate in an effort to gain votes and increase turnout. In those circumstances, with all the funding decisions that are affecting the provision of services to the public, allowing 16 and 17-year-olds to vote is not a priority.

I move amendment S4M-01741.1, to leave out from “supports” to end and insert

“notes that responsibility for the general administration and conduct of elections to local government is already devolved and that these powers are being further devolved for elections to the Scottish Parliament under the Scotland Bill while ensuring that issues of UK constitutional importance continue to be dealt with at UK level.”

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Meeting of the Parliament 19 January 2012

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