Kyle Thornton: Referendum a chance to engage youth

YOUNG people will have to live with the consequences of the vote for longer than anyone else, but this is also a ‘use it or lose it moment’ in terms of the voting age.

Picture: TSPL

If we have a high youth turnout, it will show that when motivated by meaningful engagement, young people will turn up and cast their vote. Not only are young people deciding the future of their country, they are deciding the future of their participation in our nation for generations to come.

Young people across Scotland have told the SYP that they want clear answers to their questions about the independence referendum, and to be able to engage with and shape the debate. One of the most important ways to enable them to do that is to ensure their questions and opinions are heard.

For me, this referendum is a fantastic opportunity to engage an entire generation, and all sides have a duty to engage as many young people as we can.

Kyle Thornton

If we get this right, we will take the first steps to creating a voter generation and democracy will thank us for it.

• Kyle Thornton is the Chair of the Scottish Youth Parliament

• This article is from our dedicated Scottish independence site, which features the latest referendum news, opinion and analysis from across Scotland and beyond