LONDON — Scotland's Parliament has voted to allow 16 and 17 year olds to cast ballots in next year's independence referendum.
The measure, passed Thursday by a vote of 103 to 12, will allow citizens younger than 18 to vote in Britain for the first time.
It is a one-off change and will not apply to local elections or votes for the British Parliament.
Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said "young people have a significant stake in this country's future" and it was only right they should get a say.
The referendum on Sept. 18, 2014, will ask Scots whether they want to remain part of the United Kingdom or become an independent country.
Scotland's governing Scottish National Party supports independence, while the opposition Labour and Conservative parties oppose it.
