TWO proposals – one to reduce the voting age to 16, the other to increase the age at which a member of the public can stand for office – were hotly debated at this week’s People’s Meeting in Alderney.

‘Ninety-nine per cent of 16-year-olds are not interested in politics and could easily be swayed by their parents,’ commented one member of the floor at the Island Hall. ‘This could mean an extra vote for their mum or dad.’

States chief executive David Jeremiah said: ‘The argument is that if you pay your taxes, then you should have your say in how the place is run.’ He accepted that senior citizens were more likely to take part in an election. ‘The fact is that the participation and sense of duty to the democratic process is much more keenly felt by older people.’

It was pointed out that the States was proposing to encourage younger people to vote, but not allow them to stand for office for a further five years.