Ross Greer, Scottish Greens spokesperson for Education, has proposed an amendment to the upcoming Elections Bill, set to be discussed in its Stage 2 proceedings next week. Greer’s amendment urges the Scottish Government to fund projects that would automatically register students in high schools, colleges, and universities to vote.

Greer, who played a key role in the Scottish Youth Parliament’s push to lower the voting age to 16 ahead of the 2014 independence referendum, believes that this initiative could increase young people’s engagement in the democratic process. "Encouraging automatic registration for students would empower the next generation to actively participate in shaping Scotland’s future," he says.

Reflecting on the 2014 referendum, Greer shares: "The debates and mock referendums we held in high schools are some of my favorite memories. While granting voting rights to sixteen and seventeen-year-olds was groundbreaking, it didn’t guarantee they would exercise this right. So, teachers and local councils stepped up, organizing registration events, debates, and mock votes to make young voices heard."

The impact was impressive—youth turnout reached unprecedented levels, and the success of lowering the voting age in 2014 led to its permanent adoption for Scottish Parliament and council elections. However, Greer notes that enthusiasm has waned since that initial surge, as schools, colleges, and universities haven’t consistently maintained the same level of engagement.

"My amendment to the Elections Bill aims to encourage the Scottish Government and local councils to replicate those successful efforts from a decade ago," he explains. "Automatic registration, possibly linked to the point when a student receives their SQA candidate number, would be more efficient than merely urging young people to sign up on their own."

Greer also points to international evidence that shows automatic registration increases voter turnout. “Education institutions are the perfect place for such initiatives, and I hope the committee will recognize the value of this amendment.”