Scottish independence: Overseas army children vote

Children of armed forces personnel living abroad with their parents will have a vote in next year’s independence referendum after MSPs voted to changed the law today.
Children of armed forces personnel living abroad will be entitled to vote in next year's independence referendum. Picture: Neil HannaChildren of armed forces personnel living abroad will be entitled to vote in next year's independence referendum. Picture: Neil Hanna
Children of armed forces personnel living abroad will be entitled to vote in next year's independence referendum. Picture: Neil Hanna

Young people aged 16 and 17 are eligible to vote in the referendum but no mechanism exists to allow children of overseas military personnel to have their say

However, Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon told MSPs that Holyrood had to “do all we can” to ensure the children of overseas military personnel have a vote in the referendum on 18 September 2014.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The reform was approved in an amendment to the Scottish Independence Referendum Bill which entered the first stage of parliamentary scrutiny at Holyrood’s Referendum Bill Committee today.

Ms Sturgeon insisted it was a “myth” that Scots serving in the military overseas would be denied a vote as she proposed the change to allow the 16 and 17 years-old children of servicemen and women abroad to be part of the referendum franchise.

The Deputy First Minister said that although ”the numbers affected are likely to be very small” it was “nevertheless important” to ensure that sons and daughters of overseas military personnel eligible to vote are not excluded.”

Related topics: