You are in: Latest News > A 19-year-old is preparing to take the NI secretary to court if he is not allowed to stand as a candidate in the planned assembly election.

A 19-year-old is preparing to take the NI secretary to court if he is not allowed to stand as a candidate in the planned assembly election.

26 Jan. 07

 

Current legislation in Northern Ireland states that you have to be 21 in order to be a candidate, but 19 year old Sean Mitchell wants to stand on an anti-water charges ticket in West Belfast.

He believes that the way things stand, those under 21 are unable to fully connect with elections, saying, "At the moment, people over the age of 18 are being disenfranchised and aren't allowed to engage in the political process."

He wants the legislation to be changed so that anyone over 18 can stand.

Elections to the assembly are planned for March 7th 2007, and people were called to register to vote up until 11 January, with widespread publicity campaigns encouraging people to register.

What do you think?  Do you think that it is important to reduce the age that people can stand as a candidate?  Do you agree with Sean Mitchell that this would help young people to feel fully engaged with the political process?

Why not head over to the Messageboard to join the debate?

For more about this story and the upcoming elections check out:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/6301095.stm

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/6154484.stm

 

www.electoralofficeni.gov.uk.

Last edited by: youngcitizens.org.uk (06/09/2007).


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