Reduction of voting ageS
1Scottish elections: reduction of voting age to 16S
(1)In section 2 of the Representation of the People Act 1983 (“the 1983 Act”) (local government electors)—
(a)in subsection (1)(d), after “over” insert “ , except in Scotland (see subsection (1A)) ”,
(b)after subsection (1) insert—
“(1A)In Scotland, voting age is 16 years or over.”.
(2)The amendments made by subsection (1) have effect for the purposes of—
(a)an election for membership of the Scottish Parliament (by virtue of section 11 of the Scotland Act 1998) at which the poll is to be held on or after 5 April 2016,
(b)a local government election at which the poll is to be held on or after 5 May 2016,
(c)any other relevant election at which the poll is to be held on or after 5 May 2016.
(3)In subsection (2)(c), “other relevant election” means an election (other than one mentioned in subsection (2)(a) or (b)) to which section 2 of the 1983 Act applies for the purpose of determining entitlement to vote at the election.