THE Scottish Government has shelved plans to allow 16 and 17-year-olds to become MSPs as it published a new electoral reform bill.
Reforms proposed in the legislation also include allowing foreign nationals living and working in Scotland on a time-limited visas the right to stand as candidates in Scottish elections, including council elections.
But it would ban people from standing if they were found guilty of intimidating campaigners and electoral workers.
Consultation responses on the Electoral Reform Bill were overwhelmingly opposed to extending candidacy rights to 16- and 17-year-olds.
In analysis of the responses published in October, the Scottish Government said 77% of respondents were opposed to allowing people over the age of 16 to stand for election and they were against allowing foreign nationals with “limited leave to remain” to do the same.
But the analysis also noted that organisations had mostly backed those proposals.
Voters in Scottish Parliament and local government elections must be aged over 16.
READ MORE: MSPs as young as 16 under proposed Holyrood reforms being reviewed by Government
The Scottish Government said the bill would also encourage pilots of “digital polling cards” and give ministers the power to reschedule elections “in emergencies”.
It will also seek to reform campaign rules “to improve fairness, transparency, and controls against foreign spending” and give ministers money to encourage more people to vote.
George Adam, the SNP parliamentary business minister, said: “A robust electoral system is fundamental to the success of Scotland being an inclusive and vibrant democracy that makes everyone feel included and empowered.
“It is important that as many people in our society as possible feel they have an effective and independent means to hold government to account and feel encouraged take an active interest in politics and civic life including voting and standing for elections.
“Everyone living in Scotland should have a say on how Scotland is run and the wide-ranging measures in this bill share the common thread of empowering everyone with an interest in improving democracy.”
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