MSP Calls for Rethink on Voting Methods to Get More Young People to Polls

A change in how votes are cast in Scotland could boost the number of young people participating in elections, according to an MSP.

Banffshire and Buchan Coast MSP Stewart Stevenson will hold a members’ debate at Holyrood calling for a rethink on the use of the traditional paper voting method.

It comes as a Scottish Government consultation comes to a close on the discussion about the development for electronic and internet voting.

The Institution of Engineering and Technology, of which Mr Stevenson is a member, has previously called for government to embrace a potential change.

It believes the move could encourage more young people to vote as well as helping to reduce the costs of the traditional paper voting system.

The motion put forward by Mr Stevenson has already received cross-party support.

Commenting, Stewart Stevenson MSP said:

“The method of paper voting has not been updated for more than 150 years.

“The digital revolution has changed the way we spend time with each other, shop, book holidays and go about our day-to-day lives.

“It is time we bring our voting system up to speed and adapt it to encourage a wider demographic of people to vote in our elections at both a local and national level.

“I am pleased to have received cross-party support for my motion. There are still a number of aspects of electronic voting to fine tune but I look forward to bringing the discussion and debate to Parliament.”