Before the 1970s, the legal voting age was 21 in almost every country in Europe. Very few countries had been willing to follow the example set by Czechoslovakia in 1946, when it had become the first country in the world to grant suffrage to 18-year-olds. Czechoslovakia would go on to suffer four decades of Communist dictatorship, so arguably it wouldn’t be until 1970 – when the UK and Germany lowered the voting age – that 18-year-old Europeans would reliably be able to exercise the vote.
Today, Austria is the only country in Europe that allows 16-year-olds to vote in national elections. However, the voting age has been lowered for local elections in many countries, and national debates are taking place on this issue across the EU. In future, will Austria be seen as a pioneer in the same way as Czechoslovakia in 1946?
As part of our Debating Europe Schools series, we’ve been taking questions from students from across Europe to policymakers and experts for them to answer. For today’s debate, we had questions sent in on the voting age from students from the Wielokulturowe Liceum Humanistyczne im. Jacka Kuronia, Poland.
Curious to know more about the voting age in Europe? We’ve put together some facts and figures in the infographic below (click for a bigger version).
Our first question comes from a student who wonders: Does the average 16-year-old have enough civic knowledge to vote?
To get a response, we took this question to Dr. Andrew Mycock, Reader in politics at University of Huddersfield. Dr. Mycock’s research focuses on issues of youth citizenship and government youth initiatives, so what did he think of the idea of lowering the voting age to 16?
Well, I have reservations about whether the voting age should be lowered to 16. It has been in places like Austria and Norway, and in some local elections, and I don’t think the sky will fall in if the voting age is lowered. And, in some ways, it’s not really a question about maturity, because maturity itself is very difficult to gauge. If it were just about maturity, then I know some 47-year-old men – like my good self! – who I’d question allowing to vote.
I think the bigger question is how does lowering the voting age affect the way we understand the relationship between youth and adulthood? Because, I think the big problem is that across Europe the age of responsibility has been pushed upwards over the last 20 years or so, and it seems slightly counter-intuitive to then lower the voting age to 16. The risk is that what we could create is a generation of second-class or two-tier citizens who don’t have the same rights as 18-year-old voters. So, I do think that votes at 16 will be introduced across Europe slowly but surely, but we need to take our time and think about the full ramifications of that change.
To get another perspective, we spoke to Konstantinos Kyranakis, President of the Youth of the European People’s Party (YEPP), the youth wing of the main centre-right political force in the European Parliament. What would he say?
We are having a big debate in my organisation, YEPP, about the vote at 16. I’m personally very much in favour of lowering the voting age to 16, and I don’t think we should consider people under 16 as being ‘less capable’ of voting. The level of civic knowledge a citizen is very subjective, but I think that as technology and education advances, the amount of knowledge available to 16-year-olds advances.
Today’s 16-year-olds have access to 10 times, or in some cases 100 times, as much information as their parents did at this age, so I think they can potentially have the civic knowledge they need to know what parties to vote for. Now, if they have the mental ability to take that knowledge and make such an important decision about their lives, this is a totally subjective thing and in a democracy I don’t think you can treat important matters with a point of view like that.
Finally, we had a question asking why we don’t consider raising the voting age, to “raise the knowledge of the voting base”. To get an answer, we took this question to Michael Bloss, spokeperson of the Federation of Young European Greens. Here’s what he had to say:
Should 16-year-olds be allowed to vote? Let us know your thoughts and comments in the form below, and we’ll take them to policymakers and experts for their reactions!
781 comments Post a commentcomment
I do not think so. Why? Are politicians looking for more votes? The political system cannot get existing voters to vote and now they are looking for children to vote? NO!
If people were to vote earlier they would most likely start to vote at 18 19 ext…
Thus on the one hand, politicians will be more careful towards the needs and desires of teenagers, and on the other hand, it will elicit and empower teenagers to open themselves to the political system and get them more involved in the way their countries are governed, to make them good citizens, which are the pillars of a democracy. Saying that it’s all about politicians conspiracies is sheer demagogy and populism.
I disagree 16 year olds aren’t children as the government sees them as old enough to become parents and fight for their country
I do not think so! Why? Are politicians looking for more votes? The political system cannot get existing voters to vote and now they are looikng for children to vote? NO!
Are politicians really just looking for more votes? Or do 16 year olds who pay taxes have the right to vote for who they think will be good in office? Don’t mistake 16 year olds with 3 year olds. They’re not children. They have the right to vote.
No.
You need to support your answer
No, at 16yo one has no reasoning capability.
That’s not true at all! we’re expected to get a part time job and start making absolutely huge life decisions but we have no reasoning capability??
Yes they should be allowed to vote because it worked in the referendum in Scotland last year
The famous fraud referendum? With loads of Yes votes on the No “table”?
You mean that referendum?
how did it work i am a 16 year old and the majority of 16 year olds voted yes just because they got a badge and liked the SNP because they were funny, they didn’t stop to consider what going independent meant. Some 16 year olds are not responsible enough to vote
I would halve that. Shall we say 8 for the next post..?
no.
No. Older than 7x also should not.
no sos matey
yeah think so
No.13 year olds should have access to voting
Sure. An arbitrary age as good as any other.
Should age be the only requisite for being able to vote?
That’s my point too. It’s crazy that you need to pass exams and tests for something as simple as driving a car and, yet, no requirements at all are needed when it comes to voting. The actual debate should be how we can define and apply the concept of citizenship. It should be citizens, and not just persons, who should be allowed to vote, never mind their age.
At least on local elections…
no, no, noo-o …16-teen is easy for brainwashing
No
No
Fish are friends not food.
I think we should do a brain and cultural test to everyboby, before voting.
No brain and no culture of civil rights:
No acces
Why not when 90 year old can vote then 16 year old should also be able to vote
I agree with you 100%
im sure if an 80 year old man with demensia can vote then children old enougth to be in a sexual relationship and smoke should be able to vote
no. They’ve no idea what’s going on politically-speaking on the whole. Rare to find a 16-year-old with pollyticks savvy. Mind you having said that, a vast percentage old enough to vote are just as clueless.
including people who are middle aged. There are also a lot of 16 year olds that are politic thinkers. You can really use this argument well.
yes they do , research shows that 16 & 17 year olds are as informed and engaged in political issues as older voters
mantıklı ;)neden olmasın ki ? !
No, they’re too young and vulnerable, especially to any thoughts and views that are extreme. But I’m also against 18-year-olds being allowed to vote without any kind of preparation. I think there should be a mandatory subject in highschools to teach politics, its structure, the power and responsibilities at each level… My first vote was for a european election and I had no idea of what my township’s roles were, let alone the european parliment’s.
There is subjects such as higher and advanced higher modern studies and also higher politics in schools in Scotland young people are being taught about how to vote and what it would mean to vote, yet we still aren’t even allowed to vote for big issues. For example i’m 16 and have only voted for concillor’s in my town but i’m not trusted to vote in larger elections even though i am being taught it through high school education
.
A completely idiotic idea, why 16 & not 15, or 10 years old’s..
To have a political opinion you must first have a basic understanding of how the world works otherwise you will end up with people like Russell Brand running government…. or even worse the Green Party !
16 year olds do due to schools teaching it, internet and basic communtication with parents.
There are worse people to be in power than Green Party … they may be very very idealistic but at least they don’t spread any hate or negative messages. Also that’s really irrelevant as while we use the voting system first past the post we will always be a 2 party state (labour vs conservative)
That is just arrogance, Making it sound worse than it already is, 10 year olds are not 16 year olds. Stop comaring them.
Oh so now you are comparing 16 year olds to 10 year olds? I thought that the 2 year difference between 18 and 16 was too much for you.
In Malta, they were allowed to vote for local council elections but not for hunting referendum as PM knew they were against hunting and did not want to lose votes!
Absolutely No.
Age is more than just the time your body has spend on this earth. At 15/16 I’ve started to become politically active. Years before this I already followed the news and knew every party’s ideas and people. I can honestly say i think I was a better prepared voter at 15 that more 20+ people now.
An age limit however is a policy to get “the bad people out, and sorry for the good people”. Just like responsible driving and drinking is certainty possible at 16, we kind of agreed that the risk of somebody not being prepared it bigger than the downsides of not letting somebody have this privilege. I know my peers, most would vote for the guy with the funniest name…
I do think that voting at 16 could have upsides too because it could be done with school. IF a school can objectivly teach the party ideals and can help a student decide what to choose then young people would be more motivated to vote. And get at least one chance in their lives where they MUST be politically aware.
But then again, the hot lady from the “Party for the Animals” is a winner in student elections here. So even though I campaigned two more elections than that I could vote for: better not…
@Willemijn K
It may seem unfair if brilliant minds kept prisoner of their (young) age. It is however always the “NORM” which counts- not EXCEPTIONS. 8-10 year schooling only teaches the basics & not meant to be party political laboratories. With 16- are you in a position to judge and understand all the political intrigues, have enough over & foresight of real life and who in a school will safeguard against attempted indoctrination (brainwashing)?
Please be patient, your time will come soon enough to become frustrated, corrupted and angry by all political shenanigans- unable to change the world to your wishes!
Age is more than just the time your body has spend on this earth. At 15/16 I’ve started to become politically active. Years before this I already followed the news and knew every party’s ideas and people. I can honestly say i think I was a better prepared voter at 15 that more 20+ people now.
An age limit however is a policy to get “the bad people out, and sorry for the good people”. Just like responsible driving and drinking is certainty possible at 16, we kind of agreed that the risk of somebody not being prepared it bigger than the downsides of not letting somebody have this privilege. I know my peers, most would vote for the guy with the funniest name…
I do think that voting at 16 could have upsides too because it could be done with school. IF a school can objectivly teach the party ideals and can help a student decide what to choose then young people would be more motivated to vote. And get at least one chance in their lives where they MUST be politically aware.
But then again, the hot lady from the “Party for the Animals” is a winner in student elections here. So even though I campaigned two more elections than that I could vote for: better not…
Νο!
I don’t think you are mature enough to make an informed decision about voting beyond your immediate interest, in most cases anyways. Further, you are not even a legal person, or legally an adult at 16, so I think 18 is a more appropriate voting age.
Yet countries in Europe such as the Republic of Ireland and the UK do consider you an adult at the age of 16 for tax purposes, criminal prosecution and being able to join the army. Are any of those decisions worth less in terms of responsibility than voting?
no
It’s a question of maturity, being able to understand what’s being presented and the society making an effort to educate our youths to the need and interest of an active participation in the definition of our/their future!
yes.
No
Why don’t you widen up voting from 12 year olds? Some of teenagers might be more intelligent than others at 42… :-D
Yes…
EU and every Member State should make them able to vote.
No.
No, at 16yo one has no reasoning capability.
sentence didn’t make sense mate. Yet I am 16 and can type correctly.
You cannot just assume that no one at the age of 16 has any “reasoning capability”. I believe that 16 years olds do have the mindset and the independence to make a vote. If you look at the Scottish Referendum, over 89% of the youth aged 16 and 17 voted, and that is quite a significant result. If the youth (aged 16) in the United Kingdom were allowed to vote we would see a huge result. After all, the decisions that we make now are going to affect 16 year olds in the future. So why cannot we decide? Why cannot we vote for something that will eventually have an impact on our lives?
Yes they should be allowed to vote because it worked in the referendum in Scotland last year
Allowing 16 year olds to vote in the Scottish referendum was a cynical ploy to take advantage of the “Braveheart” mentality
All Scots are patriotic and to a certain extent all have some degree of desire to escape from Westminster, the young were targeted because they have no pensions, mortgages or other fiscal responsibilities for which the Union provides a great benefit
Sure. An arbitrary age as good as any other.
Should age be the only requisite for being able to vote?
At least on local elections…
Yes: pay taxes so should be able to vote
no, no, noo-o …16-teen is easy for brainwashing
No
I think we should do a brain and cultural test to everyboby, before voting.
No brain and no culture of civil rights:
No acces
no, they cannot even decide between using a pen or a pencil when writing an exam … i am afraid they cannot understand politics or even tell the parties apart! of course there are many exceptions to this rule.
WHO’S fault?
Completely unfounded. In the UK, all examinations forcibly require that you now use black ink pens or biros, you get 0 choice between “pencil” and “pen” for official education exams. In fact, most of the people I know at age 15+ know exactly what parties exist – Plaid, Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat.
The only reason why anyone could not understand their policies is either due to a lack of education on politics (which should be blamed on the system which doesn’t cover politics unless you intend to ever study Law in College and University), or because every party keeps changing its policies during and after ever election, and you can never trust that what they say is what they believe or what they really intend to do in future.
We’re living in an age where more youths are attempting and introducing THEMSELVES into politics and active social justice to fight for causes that affect them. We have to fight because nobody else will listen to what we say, because we’re dismissed as “Mindless Teens”. I’ll agree that not all of us are as politically involved, but that is up to educators to help with.
Why not when 90 year old can vote then 16 year old should also be able to vote
no. They’ve no idea what’s going on politically-speaking on the whole. Rare to find a 16-year-old with pollyticks savvy. Mind you having said that, a vast percentage old enough to vote are just as clueless.
mantıklı ;)neden olmasın ki ? !
No let them be children :) they have time to wote in there lifes
No, they’re too young and vulnerable, especially to any thoughts and views that are extreme. But I’m also against 18-year-olds being allowed to vote without any kind of preparation. I think there should be a mandatory subject in highschools to teach politics, its structure, the power and responsibilities at each level… My first vote was for a european election and I had no idea of what my township’s roles were, let alone the european parliment’s.
A completely idiotic idea, why 16 & not 15, or 10 years old’s..
To have a political opinion you must first have a basic understanding of how the world works otherwise you will end up with people like Russell Brand running government…. or even worse the Green Party !
Hi! Loving your constructive opinion! ;)
Lets just assume that the Green party really is the horrible naive party that you probably think it is, why shouldn’t they be represented? Aren’t especially the young people the ones who will have to deal with the decisions made by governments?
A young, positive,creative point of view can add something to politics. Issues like culture, education and environment will be more relevant to politicians because they have more “potential voters”.
I’m not saying that letting 16 year olds vote is a great plan, but your example of the Green party is a invalid argument in my opinion.
– An politically active person since 14 years old, now 18. (and also, surprise: active Green party supporter in local, national and european politics ;) )
10 is a little low… just sayin
In Malta, they were allowed to vote for local council elections but not for hunting referendum as PM knew they were against hunting and did not want to lose votes!
Absolutely No.
Age is more than just the time your body has spend on this earth. At 15/16 I’ve started to become politically active. Years before this I already followed the news and knew every party’s ideas and people. I can honestly say i think I was a better prepared voter at 15 that more 20+ people now.
An age limit however is a policy to get “the bad people out, and sorry for the good people”. Just like responsible driving and drinking is certainty possible at 16, we kind of agreed that the risk of somebody not being prepared it bigger than the downsides of not letting somebody have this privilege. I know my peers, most would vote for the guy with the funniest name…
I do think that voting at 16 could have upsides too because it could be done with school. IF a school can objectivly teach the party ideals and can help a student decide what to choose then young people would be more motivated to vote. And get at least one chance in their lives where they MUST be politically aware.
But then again, the hot lady from the “Party for the Animals” is a winner in student elections here. So even though I campaigned two more elections than that I could vote for: better not…
No!
It’s a question of maturity, being able to understand what’s being presented and the society making an effort to educate our youths to the need and interest of an active participation in the definition of our/their future!
It is nothing to do with maturity. There are some very mature 16 years olds but unfortunately they have no life experience and very little responsibilities so are unable to make an informed decision on how to vote for their own best interests
Why is life experience (defined by age) necessary? I red all kinds of articles and know the historic contexts. I don’t think I have a worse insight than the average adult.
Its OUR future too. Especially even.
yes.
No.
Why don’t you widen up voting from 12 year olds? Some of teenagers might be more intelligent than others at 42… :)
EU and every Member State should make them able to vote.
Yes…
LOL what do 16 year olds know about the world and politics ?? Lets get real.
At least we know how to use LOL properly…
Yes but the should have class in the school an teach young people democracy , human rights , justice and media freedom .
No let them be children :) they have time to wote in there lifes
@Bustos Cesped Jeanette
Well said.
SURE NO!!! With 16 years not because at that age you can not have things.
A lot of grown adults don’t understand politics never mind a 16 year old so no
No
No. They aren’t mature enough to know who to vote for. Not that currently there’s much of a good choice. Its just two sides of the same coin …
Some children are smarter then some grown ups, for example creationists.
Stupid people are the majority and they can vote, so why not children?
BTW there should be short education about politics in school.
No!
YES! Definitely! You can serve in the army, have sex, get married, etc, etc. They’re often a damned sight more sane and clear-sighted than us adults, believe me!!
No. And even 18 is young in some cases. Most 18 year olds are complete idiots and only priorities is to drink and party.
With civic responsibilities in work and play, there is no doubt the priviledge should be granted. The taxing effort rewards both citizen and state with participatory politics.
yes,most of them are smarter than the adults
No.
HELLLLL NOOOOO
Yea
no
It’s a question of maturity, being able to understand what’s being presented and the society making an effort to educate our youths to the need and interest of an active participation in the definition of our/their future, so No!!
No. We should eliminate “facebook idealism” out of the equation.
No, they are way too young.
You should have the right to vote (my opinion)only if you have 5 years of work.Doesnt matter the age.
that means I can vote in your opinion. Which means 16 year olds should vote.
What about min. education to be required?
No! It is too early for them
Legal voting age should be 21-22.
Yes
The boys can marry and be arrested in Portugal at 16 years old,why can’t vote ?Only vote at 18 .
no, we allready have enough 18+ who vote stupidly
Only if they had political education at school!
No way! Not until they can understand the consequences!!
No
Why? You have not any argument.
More scientific studies are needed to verify that possibility.
This question shows the deranged and infantile minds we have leading us. They identify with children and want them to take responsibility for the actions of adults.
Think about this, what is the outcry today about the abuse called ‘Hitler Youth’?
@ Catherine
Very, very well said! Every one please check out how brainwashing is done (efficiently)! It’s disgusting!
Well… I was 15 when I joined my party. You don’t put allot of trust in the European youth when you think we are absolutely brainless. Don’t forget that youth parties exist all over Europe like for example the FYEG. You can hardly compare that to the Hitler Jugend?
Also we are educated on the matter and proberbly understand the effects of certain actions because of case studies from other contries. We are not children and are infact young ADULTS. I personally do not like being placed in a box with HITLER just because of my age.
“Hi why are you here?”
“I’m 16 so you know. I suddenly follow you.”
“Great! Lets invade france again!”
No thank you.
There is already enough immature people in politics who have no life experience so to suggest we allow other young people also with no life experience to vote for them is a recipe for disaster
Life experience is not a condition for a good choice and certainty not measured by age.
There are allot of 16 year old with a better informed opinion than most 40 year olds. There are great young politicians who do allot better than some older ones. Think in civil maturity, not age.
@Paul X
Yes, correct. It is a devious & opportunistic scheme by today’s desperate & morally confused political elite! In fact, “the voting age” s(c)ould rather become irrelevant (only raised)- by matching it to a well deserved minimum level of human maturity (21) = life experience- or once a person becomes a contributing, productive citizen & TAXPAYER! Unfortunately not pc enough, against all the HR unruly rules & never to be considered by any of our distant parliamentarians!
No
No. Their parents would influence their choice a lot.
YES
Unfortunately we already have a lot of immature politicians with no life experience (beyond a few years partying at university) so to suggest we should let young people who also have zero life experience vote them into power, is a recipe for disaster
In some countries NO
they are extremely vulnerable and can be manipulated.
Yes they absolutely should be able to vote! The referendum is Scotland proved that 16+ can and should vote!
In my opinion even 14 year olds should be allowed to vote.
No, at 16 you’re still officially a child.
Yes.
Should dogs and cats be allowed to vote ?? What do 16 year olds know about highly complex complicated geopolitcal agendas ?? Utter stupidity.
I think that the voting age in Europe should be 16 because the youths need to change the life of their country.
A 16 years old person is very easy to manipulate via different types of media, there is a high risk of abuse.
before asking this question ..what about doing reserach? Germany Länder and Scotland already have 16 – 18 voting rights.. so should ? and Alex think first before writing…
No- It makes no sense that you could be able to vote before you can consume alcohol (18 in UK)
No
.
It does not matter what the voting age is as long as only Brit’s are allowed to vote..
“Eurosceptic Tory MPs called on the Prime Minister to guarantee that only UK voters are allowed to take part in the crucial vote – not other EU nationals living here.””Eurosceptic Tory MPs called on the Prime Minister to guarantee that only UK voters are allowed to take part in the crucial vote – not other EU nationals living here.”
http://www.9ijanews.com/news/david-cameron-urged-to-ban-migrant-europeans-voting-in-eu-referendum
No. Nor do I think it should be 18. Most 18-20 year olds I have met have no clue about politics or economy. Most people I have met, don’t even know what austerity or consolidation means. There should be political education in schools of GB.
No
Sure!
Many grown-ups now less about politics and it’s impact that teenagers do. To many grown-ups vote without mowing What They ate voting for.
So yes 16 on vote and 25 on alcohol and Bann Tobacco (comment on previous)
Yes.
Samila Veras
What is the objective?
– is the objective to get more votes? Votes that are easier to manipulate?
– or is the goal to save the politicians the trouble of reaching out to the existing electorate? And so going for new “unspoiled” votes? And thus going the easy way?
The question ought to be:
– how can the political system reach out to the existing electorate?
– how can the political parties get out of their demagogic stances and reach out to people?
Placing voting rights and responsibilities on 16 year olds without having the schools teaching citizenship is a formula for failure.
My vote on this is NO!
16-year-olds have issues choosing their ice cream flavour and people want to get them to vote? I don’t think it’s good idea.
no; European people reach to level of maturity late enough.
18 is fine. It’s already a bit low, in fact. 16 is pushing the limit.
Ok agree!! .. but don’t you think, from timet to time, that we are asked questions on subjects while other burning political subjects are left in silence ?? .e.g. SHOULD’NT it be created a more enabled European parliament?
18!!!!!
No, life has become far too complex requiring a longer process of maturation.
No never
Yes why not
No!!
.
Voting is irrelevant in the EU so it does not matter what age you set it at.
http://www.politico.eu/other-voices/no-one-voted-for-mr-juncker/
.
‘We’ will vote and then ‘we’ will leave.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/2015/05/17/uk-britain-eu-labour-idUKKBN0O10V020150517
No
Should 16-year-old people be allowed to vote, every candidate with number 69 are elected.
No!
No vote unless you have a job.
Yes. But either all over the eu or not at all.
18
18
NO, They have to be at least 18 if not 21…there is no room for immature voters.
No. But neither are people over 70 cause it’s not their future
In Austria that is allowed
Who tell you that we in Bosnia and Hercegovina vote on 16? In all ex-Yugoslavia republic’s voting is at 18 years old.
God no, I think there should be a voting licens issued only to those who pass a written test about their political system’s institutions, electoral system and overall knowledge of the constitution.
When I was 16 I thought so. Now, few years later, I’m glad I wasn’t allowed.
They already do in Malta ! seems we are more progressive than the best of Europe !
Yes! :)
definately not
I think 16-years old should be allowed to vote, but just when they have proper education. Also, it is not the main criteria, because I saw a lot of older people who aren`t interested in politics and a lot of 16-years olds who are well prepared and they have a good knowledge and the discernment to vote. I think discernment will be the main criterion for reducing the voting age. Yet I do not believe there is a causal relationship, as Konstantinos Kyranakis said, between technological development and the level of knowledge and that this statement could be an argument for lowering the voting age to 16 years.
In conclusion I am pro to lower the voting age
When trying to decide a standpoint on this issue, I always look back to when I was that age. At 16 i had the beginnings of becoming politicised, but in reality i had very little understanding as to what it all meant. To some extent i still struggle now when politicians talk of tax, spending etc. and i am in university currently studying politics.
I’m not saying every 16 year old will not understand the implications of their vote, i’m sure there are many who do. Yet equally there will be those of the same age who do not even know the basics surrounding elections.
I would possibly be more inclined to support the lowering of the age if politics became a compulsory subject in schools. I think it is vital that from a young age politics is a subject that is talked about, debated, examined and understood. Once this is place and students are starting to come through the system with that understanding, then it is an opportunity to lower the age. However, i can’t see this happening in any time soon, it’s going to take a long term effort from all to change the schooling system which restricts freedom of thought.
I have a friend at university who tried to talk to me about politics before the general election earlier this month. He basically concluded that he would be ultimately guessing who to vote for because he did not understand what the parties we saying or promising. Education is vital if politics is to come away from being a ‘taboo’ subject, and getting younger people interested in participating.
It could quite easily turn out, particularly in Britain that if the voting age was lower all it would mean is that there’s another proportion of the population not to vote.
I believe 16-year-olds should be allowed to vote, as they have reached an age at which they can understand politics, certainly to a fundamental degree. They should have both the ability and the responsibility to decide about the governance of their municipality or country, for it is their own future that is determined.
What about 15 year olds?
Heck, what about 5 year olds?
I would be in favor of a basic knowledge test. People that do not know how the EU works (in effect, that don’t know that the EU is undemocratic) shouldn’t be allowed to vote at all. Why after all should I be deprived of democracy because ignorant people with rose tinted glasses on cannot see the wood for the trees?
16 year old givine the vote; are you mad; out of your mind, Good God, this age group have no idea of what is right or wrong or how a nation should be run, they are still in nappies and have no life skills or knowledge or come to that Commonsense. God Help us all if they are given the vote.
Believe me when I say that you can not find any sort of “common sense” in the decisions that “mature adults” make when they vote. And anyway, how could you define the skill of knowing what is “right for your nation”?
I think, it must be at least 20… Maybe that can also be low… Because individual can think clearly as from 21-23 ages… Consciousness is important to vote… At final, person decide to future of his own country…
It’s the same with any age group, you’ll have those enthusiasts that go out of their way and do research and know a lot about the topic and you’ll have some that don’t know enough and/or won’t vote but to accurately find out, you need to allow them to have the vote. You can’t expect them to get actively involved if you deny them the vote. Furthermore the amount of 16-18 year olds that voted in the Scottish Referendum.
Same as adults
Not more or less than 18 year olds. Age as a number by itself does not define this, it depends on the individual.
as to following the previous attacks in Paris, 16 to 17 year olds are more likely to be attached to the extremist side for they are the main target for propaganda and this will put their mind less on the vote itself but vulnerability towards ISIS and as a country we will be left with regrets. say that is a big NNNNNNNNOOOOOOOO. granting 16 to 17 year olds the right to vote is giving them more responsibility and more issues regarding the government that they will face and referring back to propaganda their choices are mostly influenced by their parents not their choice. would we risk that.
Yes, I do believe 16-year-olds should be allowed to vote. This isn’t a question about maturity, it is a question about democracy. Democracy is about making your voice heard, being part of making the society, it’s about people ruling the society.
Today, in most countries, adults are the only ones allowed to vote. What about youth? They make a big part of our society and yet they aren’t allowed to vote. And youth are highly influenced by society in things like education, right to make your voice heard etc.
The voting age is at 16 in many countries, and the results are only good.
In these countries, the results are: higher voter turnout and younger people are chosen into, for example, the pairlament.
Is this all about trying to pressure the UK into allowing 16 year olds to vote in the referendum in a desperate attempt to increase the odds of a yes vote ? Funny it has popped up now. The best way to do that would be to radically reform the EU and people will want to remain in it. Easy really
No
When I was 16 I didn’t have a clue about the civics!!
The internet sure makes information and news drive faster and give you the potential to be informed.. but also gives you the potential to SKIP some news and CHOOSE what information to seek. So… Maybe 16 year olds have other concerns more entertaining, more innocent than the filthy game of politics!
We should consider it more before puting politics in school.
It would make more sense if this happened in the ’20s. The news lived in the streets, you had to be informed. Everybody was informed. But now.. politics is not the children’s favourite toy!
Well I think it depends on the 16 year old as a person… Anyhow my son seems to have quite extreme views in both directions left and right. I think it wouldn’t help our society to have those views implemented. Bit like a rough diamond. Some work needs to be done before ready to be admired and shown to the world.
No. They do not have enough life experience. 18 is the youngest it should be.
Yes! 16 years is mature enough.
Yes! There are a lot of people much older than 18 without civic knowledge. It’s up to their interests and not their biological age.
Yes but only for local election
No how could a generation who are fun of dump people like lady gaga or even Nicky menage vote for the future of Europe
No.
does have enough civic knowledge the 70-80-90…….year old?
hmm, let’s think…
Aboslutely not.
Please explain:
– What are the topics that interest a 16 year old? To the point of having an opinion, informed or not? Politics? Social services? Roads and infrastructure? Hospital services and schools? Unemployment?
If so, it makes sense to let them vote. If not leave them alone and let them be children for another couple of years!
This whole “voting at 16” sounds to me like “vote chasing” and not like democracy at all.
It basically is vote chasing, which is why certain parties (i.e. the Greens in the UK) want to adopt it, because they know they stand to gain the most voters out of it.
YES! 16 YO for driving, voting and 18 yo to be elected.
but for alcool 21 years old!
Does the average idiot on the street have “enough” knowledge to vote? Obviously not. And that’s why democracy will always be a failure
No! They will only vote what their family votes! Not enough knowledge for Critical Thinking! Thats actually a problem for most grownups!
NO
NO!
No
No! They have lady gaga and justin bieber on their minds
Yes. They should be educated about the voting system and the impact it has on parliament when they are at school. By starting at a younger age they will be more engaged with the system.
There were debates in Scotland regarding the referendum that were more informed than half the discussions I heard at my work.
No, only a small minority could, the vast majority lack the maturity. Besides some never do, even when they’re 80 :)
No .-. XD
18 is good
No! Seriously? I didn’t care much for politics when I was 16! This would lead to parents guiding their children to vote what they vote! And not only that. I think that some maturity is required in order to understand the complex matters involved. Honestly, when I was 16, I hadn’t exactly grasped the full meaning of the left and right core believes!
nope
EU citizens who live in EU countries should be able to vote not only in the European elections but also be able to vote and stand for elections in ALL elections, be it municipal, autonomous or national. Once this has been achieved we can talk about the appropiate voting age.
OF COURSE! IMPROVE INFORMATION
Yes, it is their future. The only people who should not have the vote are the ‘stars’ of the Jeremy Kyle Show.
Not sure. I think it’s not a metter of information but am etter of being able to comprehense.
I read my first «programme» of a political party before I was 16 yo; many adults votes without reading more than posters…
No.
22
No, they are too young. 18 year is low enough for voting!
Yes for local Council elections but not sure about the GE.
They should be allowed an EU vote though.
Ofcourse NOT!!!
Simple answer: NO.
The elections of 2050 will have politicians battling it out over who can make the best policies to attract the ‘minor vote’. John Redman, leading candidate of the Red Party, unveils his policy of ‘Free Video Games’ to go on to win the elections.
no, is to early.
No because their parents have a big influence on them
SMART!!!
No, they will be indoctrinated by the elite left or unscrupulous right in schools, youth organisations and god knows what other places, and are unable to distinguish fiction from reality. As simple as that. Once people become older they (hopefully) realise where the lies come from. Funny that the left is mainly positive towards this young voting right, demonstrates clearly who indoctrinates the most at a young age.
Yes.
I think is better 2 year old children vote.
It is true that they have access to more information than their parents did, so what? It doesnt mean that they are smarter or that they will know what to do with that information. Voting is not a question of having access to information, but knowing how to convert that information into a vote.
no they are not mature to vote
That question can only be addressed if we address this one first: Do we have an education system that can nurture civic responsibilities into Europe’s youngsters?
Nope Nope Nope Nope
NO
It doesn’t matter. They won’t go to vote anyway. Young people don’t vote in Europe. Nobody seems to really care about them anyway.
if yes then 16 could be president
nonsense
for man voting age = after army service… for woman after wedding
until that enjoy the live :)))
No
Yes! Most 16year olds that will care enough to vote are more interested and usually more politically involved than the older generations…reading some of the comments here makes me wonder if people 50+ should be allowed to vote….
No. Should people over 70 be allowed to vote?
Absolutely NO~
My vote is NO!
16 year olds? Why? Who is chasing votes? It appears to me someone is on the vote hunt! Has anyone asked them if they care? Has anyone thought that one should allow them to be teenagers and enjoy teenage-hood?
Honestly, I would move the ability to vote 30 years old. 😀
Nop
No
Yes; it’s a good idea!
.
A completely idiotic idea.
No, but people 80 and above shouldn’t either
You should be able to vote only after 5 years of work.This is the only way people can understand the value of money and life.
I think that it is more important to give back more power to the people rather that spreading the people’s power over more citizens, therefore reducing our power share as individuals.
Take as reference the idea of Open Source Government, a shared power, shared responsibility, lowers the chances to corrupt the system.
Don’t you have any more relevant issues to put up for debate? For example of how very undemocratic the EU as an institution is and how much money is bieng wasted there?
Even less. 13 would not shock me. The idea that «The young» are lesser citizens isstupid. Sure.. some kids are too sipid to vote, but then again so are many adults.. i and I think stupid adults should vote too.
NO lack of knowledge and experience experience
National governments and the nations they represent themselfs should decide this. If my countrymen and our bloody government decide teens should vote – then so be it. But if that is Brussels order then it’s no, we’ve already lost hundreds of millions because brussels orders and our tourism is shrinking. I imagine that it will be quite disastrous for some countries with demographic issues (which I don’t wish to mention) to allow 16 years old people to vote
NO
No!
Absolutely not!
No. Tooo influenciable.
No
No.. I believe that they are not mature enough to take decisions for their country.
I’m positively surprised to see I’m not alone in these kind of thoughts. I think we should have voting age from 31 to 71, and the voting should be obligatory just like in Belgium. So maybe that’s on the same line like Ivana Medvidović-Šerić & Alex Bell think.
Psychology studies show that human brain reaches the peak in development at the age of 30. And people after the age of 70 really are to old to asses about political future of a society…
People who don’t know what they are voting for, should not vote. 16 is a joke, if we look at the world today. Most young adults still think the current political classes are composed of human beings that work for the good of the people, and someone is thinking about bringing even younger ones to decide. Good demo-cratic plan.
21 legal age for owning a firearm and 16 for voting? Are you serious?
No, life has become more complex, and it takes youths longer to mature and make sense of the world.
No, as well as lots of other adults.
No vote no tax on there wage, why should the government be allowed to dip into there wage packet and they have no say in how that money is spent, no taxation without representation
I think that the question is not one of maturity or civil knowledge as much as one of awareness, involvement and analytical ability. Some of today’s youth are more involved and knowledgeable than many older generation adults. However, they may also be seen as not having developed their core values and sense of self yet and may therefore be more likely to succumb to manipulation from misguided political ideologies that can speak “their language”. To lower the voting age successfully, we need to consider how interested and involved youth currently are in politics or in political issues like economy, jobs, climate change, taxes, etc. in addition to their civil knowledge like knowing how political systems work and their rights and obligations as citizens. Increasing youth awareness of political issues (as well as the awareness of all citizens reagrdless of age) is crucial for an effective and well functioning democratic system!
I believe they are too imature to vote.
No.
No
yes
No, too ear;ly
Yes
Absolutely No
Absolutely No
No, even at the age of 18 you don’t really know what to vote and how important this is to everyday life. 16 is too early
f no !!! the votting age should be razed … to at least 25 !!! kids these days are loosing touch with reality !!
its to early …for someone to voting
ΝΟ
No ! Voting is a blank check (not even good for adults).
Maybe. Idiots can vote.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/10/only-six-percent-of-scien_n_229382.html
Νο!!
I strongly believe that granting the choice 16 year olds to vote would be an abominable mistake. Young people at the very start of adult life are nowhere near ready to participate in a poll which ultimately determines the future not just our country, but others in Europe. Far too little young people aged between 16 and 20 show a deep enough understanding of modern day society and politics, let alone what our country needs. This would be a controversy at very least.
I can guarantee you, my friend, that adults usually are just as ignorant and naive as 16-year-old teenagers are… I believe 16-year-olds should be allowed to vote on the basis that it’s their future that’s being decided and they should have a say in it. Why do 80-year-olds, for example, get to vote? I really don’t want to be cynical, but there isn’t much future for them anyway… And they certainly can’t understand more of politics than 16-year-olds!
Definite YES! 16-year-olds are aware enough of the problems facing their community and country and there are some that are more than competent to make sucah a decision. If a 90+ year old can vote,why can’t a 16 year old? By the way, this infographic is wrong, the minimum voting age in Bosnia & Herzegovina is currently 18.
So does the average adult?
Do politicians?
No.
Depends on the age of sexual consent in a given country: if people are allowed to have sex at 16, why shouldn’t they be allowed to vote? If the age of sexual consent is 13, then people should also be able to vote at 13. Or 18. Whatever is the age you can officially consent to sex, you should be allowed to vote. It is hypocrisy from the State if it differentiates sexual consent from voting!
In my opinion no because I think that they need more time to get more experience about what to vote involves. They could easily be hooked by mediocre and populist politicians.
no
No.
No.
Yes – they have the mental capacity to understand the issues and have access to all the information they need to make an informed decision.
Yes
Ate you worried about the turn up %?
No way. They can be easily influenced amnd manipulated.
No
i’m in the same range with Stavroula.No.
I’m at least more ready to vote than many adults :P here old men are the one who fell prey to the empty promises of populists, 16 y.o. people should be allowed to vote?
No.
Do the 30’s 40’s 50’s and 60’s years old politicians have enough civic as well to be there???? Do they???
no. they’lll just vote what their people tell them to. most of the time.
Where ever they are allowed to work and have to pay taxes on their salary, yes! #notaxationwithoutrepresentation
I read things like “they can be easily manipulated” or “they will vote what others tell them”. Please, most of the people we know are influenced (manipulated) by the “debating shows” on TV and that has nothing to be with being 16 years old or older. Often when I try to debate with family or friends I hear arguments from those TV shows I said before which, at least in my country, are really really simple and bad arguments. :/
Everyone can…if they have honest and sufficient information.
Don t think so.
The same for many adults
All citizens should have the right to vote, regardless of age or any other factor.
I’m against 18 years old also.. At least 21..
No 18 or nothing.
every one shod have the right to vote
I’m 16 year old ,but I don’t know that much info about vote ,since this is new to everyone who is in my age. However vote would affect our life/education in future, so we need to vote as we have an side effect after the vote.
16 is too young 18 is just about right in my opinion, 16 year olds have a lot other than politics on their minds such as exams and revision.
there is no upper limit, but there is a lower limit, even though 16 year olds are probably more eligible and able to vote than say a 95 year old, and they will be a lot more affected by the policies.
also, working 16 year olds are eligible to pay taxes, yet they have no say about what their money goes towards or how much they have to pay.
and sixteen year olds are allowed to fight for our country, although they have no say about when or why they get to potentially sacrifice themselves for the greater good.
Kids should be able to vote. They have a voice
No. When they are charged with serious crimes at 16 and 17 their names and hidden and they get off lightly because of their age. If they kill anyone it is all hush hush. Always cannot be named because of their age.
Yes.
Hudson is an idiot, he has no idea what he’s talking about, teens should not be allowed to vote because of hudson
Hell yeah
no way I would rather suffer than see this happening. they are way too focused on applying for sixth form and start a job that we cannot put another thing on their plates. let them handle this first and as they get closer to 18 that is when we start putting these responsibilities.
16 year olds are allowed to join the army and get married so why cant they vote? Many people think that they are not mature enough but if they can get a job im pretty sure they’re mature enough to vote
No! First of all, 16 yr old kids don’t even keep their room clean. How can you expect them to research, and find the best leader for the country?
Honestly, voting at ages 14 and up isn’t a bad idea because if you thunk about it…..we elect a president every 4 years and typically keep the same one for 8. That’s enough time for a whole new generation. WE may (yes WE) do dumb stuff to rebel against our parents or out of pure lazyness, but believe it or not, when it comes to our future, we are actually pretty invested and serious about it
yes!
No. They are immature.
Honestly, no, most 16 year olds are too immature ti be given such important tasks. But then most 18 year ilds are the same…
No.
But we should teach them how to ask good questions.
.
Why 16 & not 15, or 14, or …… ?
Yes but they should teach young people about democracy and human rights . They should remove religion from all schools .
No.
no they should not.. political elites are obviously scared of people waking up so they need freshly manipulated young voters
Many of the people I debate with use the same silly arguments (EXACTLY THE SAME) you can see on TV, and it doesn’t matter if these people are 16 or 42.
What I mean is that age can’t tell if someone can be manipulated easier or harder.
no, they are too easy targets for propaganda. voters should be 21 at least.
If they are easy targets for propaganda depends entirely on the education in school and at home. But 16 is too young, they are still kids at that age.
As a 14 year old, I believe that most 16 year olds are not quite mature enough to make a solid decision that isn’t largely based on idealistic dreams that simply won’t work. As such, I feel it isn’t a great idea. If anything, people shouldn’t vote at 18, because the life experience simply doesn’t give them the qualification.
Why not ? If you are a sheep minded person, you will still be like that even if you’re 50 ! The beauty of the secret vote is that you can say you voted with that facist dude your father adores, while actually voting with the pot smoking liberal you belive is gonna legalize marijuana ))))))
oi oi yes
nop
yes, to local elections.
Definitely
No. Rather 25 or 30.
no!
No
no! rather 23
No.Very young.Difficult for us to understand………….the children will get confused.
nikah ver ,kucağına çocuk ver, iş ver, eline silah ver ama seçme seçilme hakkı verme,bu yazıyı kargalar şimdiden kıçıyla gülmeye başladı :)) !!!!
right so the majority of the people here are saying no when they are talking about an issue that will effect us i think we deserve the right to chose we are the ones who will know the answer have u ever asked a young person their opinion if no then hear mine YES we should be we are the futures world leaders how are we meant to learn all this if we do not start of young we deserve the right to vote are age does not matter so why are adults answering this question i have no idea we are the faces of the future we are the future leaders so just give us a chance and see how good we will do because adults are affecting my future and every other young persons future so my point here is just stop and ask us should we be allowed to vote because in the united kingdom right now we are deciding weather or not to leave the EU well why are just adults making the decisions that affect are future i think this is unfair the human race is all meant to have equal rights when we don’t even get a right to the vote we deserve so let us VOTE.
Yes cause 16 is an even number
Also ’cause 16 year olds pay more attention to politics and stuff
Noooooo!!!!
16 teen year olds should vote their muature
i think 16 is a perfect voting age… i mean they follow the laws!
I am 15 and I feel that we should be able to vote as I feel like decisions are being made about my future without me and at 15 most people are part of the adult world in some way so we should have a say in what affects us.
You can’t conpare maturity with age…. There’s 8 year olds that should vote and 50 year olds that still shouldn’t
Yes, i guess
yes, if you can legally leave school at 16 and work then you should vote, taxation with representation
No
since Voting is a joke and can’t change anything I have nothing against leting everyone who can read vote.
NO!
NO
NO!
No !
No!
Yes
80+ shouldnt
Yes
No
Obviously not. If they are not mature enough to drink they are certainly not mature enough to decide about millions of lifes. The age of adulthood should be 21/5 when your brain stops its developement. All responsabilities, including voting, should be allowed at that time and not beforw.
I dont think they should, because most dont have a clue about responsability
Devem ter o direito de serem ministros!
NO…they are not mature enough to decide for themselves.
No.
No.
A 16yo with internet is way more capable of voting than a 30yo without internet access
what rubbish the mentality of a 16 year old is not on adult level, why is europe so absurd ?
…what??? Why do you think with Americans it’s 21? And why do you think its called maturity?
We are great success ourselves…………………….No,of course not.Very young to understand.Plus they will found out what kind of liers politicians are.Let them hope.
possiamo votare a qualsiasi età ma cosa votiamo ? Perchè non spiegate i Trattati cosa dicono ? Nessuno lo sa eppure è già deciso. Quello che succede è un effetto di quei Trattati. Perchè non ci spiegate passo passo cosa dicono quei Trattati ?
If anything it should be raised to 30!
Yes.
I am pretty sceptical about it. It is not a matter of rising or lowering the voting age, it is a matter of education. Voting age is not thought to be 18 because you are far more mature than when you were 16,but because thanks to school you acquire socio-political knowledge you didn’t have. If you have few knowledge about economics and your national/european bodies, it is more likely you will be conditioned by populism; and populism is the weakness of democracy. If we think about all the populism that exists right now in Europe, I would say it is enough: we don’t need more of it.
NO! And not people who live on social contribution nor are criminals. Workers-taxpayers support a country, to vote should be only to them, and only at 25 y.o. at least.
Why not 12 ?
absolutely no !
It depends on what
no
no
Nooooooo ,justin bieber will be elected lool
I speak base on my country and there is literally 0 education regarding politics, if we lower the age, the probability of populist movements will only increase
Ok if they can get a drivers license alcohol and cigarettes as well. Give not Just the Boring stuff
Lol !!!.. what ? Wasn’t a joke ? Oh… That much..
Only if politics is taught in school or they will end up copying what their parents vote, or their parents disinterest in voting.
Don t think so, first of all because teens don t have at least basic knowledge about political platforms or how a state works
Don t think so, first of all because teens don t have at least basic knowledge about political platforms or how a state works
What is the difference between a 17 year olds knowledge compared to someone who recently turns 18, just because it’s legally an adult?
ΝΟ
No!
There is not much difference between sixteen and eighteen, so why not? The truth is that maturity has nothing to do with age. There are sixteen years old perfectly capable of deciding what they want and fifty years old who don’t know the first thing about politics. I’ve always been interested in politics, even as a young kid, and I remember we used to have intense discussions at school with my classmates. Judging all teens as ignorant or unprepared is stupid. We should be willing to listen to their voice too.
Mesdames, Messieurs,
Ladies, Gentlemen,
Bonjour,
merci de porter devant le public des citoyens internautes l’idée d’un vote possible pour les personnes âgées de 16 ans.
Good morning
Thank you to put the issue “Should 16-year-olds be allowed to vote?” on the scene.
I wish dare to say my answer is, first step, YES WE ALLOW, 16-years-old will be allowed to vote, soon, worlwide. It will input the political change toward participative and innnovative democracy
To be honest, as a French citizen, I have thought many times about this issue and my conclusions are the following : nontheless, in a pedagogic, family, school and philosophical matter, we have to teach new generation about authority, Soverereignty, parties, ideals, ideas and facts. As a father of Faustine, 10 year old, I wish she would be able to vote at the age of 14, no doubt about it.
Furthermore, I think, parents should have a second right to vote from baby born to 14th birthday of their progeniture.
Strength, independance, freedom, resilience and critical mind is eased with philosophical and political knowledges. With those backgrounds, 14 year old people will gain maturity.
Mesdames, Messieurs,
Ladies, my dear fellows,
LET S ALLOW 16 year old vote in our own countries !
BE or not to be.
I prefer the next generation to be !
A vous,
Martin Gardey de soos
twitter @mdesoos
No, by no means!
Can people saying no back this up with an educated reason as to why not? There isn’t much difference between 16 and 18, as a 16 year old myself who knows adults of 40 who don’t have a clue what they want why should I, who has strong views be pushed aside because at the age of 17 I could be a week away from 18, not being able to vote? Is there much difference?We’re going to have uneducated and immature people who are years into voting as much as we will 16 years olds. Also, maybe if the voting age was lower it would push schools to teach pupils more important topics; such as, how the UK government system works and reason for or against leaving the EU.
Of course they should, it would create almost a new generation of teenagers who are much more mature and are thinking about their world and what they can do to improve and keep it safe. Yes, many may argue that in this day in age there are a majority of teenagers 16+ that are very immature and shouldn’t really be allowed to vote. However this is a situation you could not overcome. There are many 18 year olds and over that I personally know that I don’t think are mature enough to vote. Not everybody will be mature about it and that’s just a disadvantage on letting the public vote (However one disadvantage in many advantages). So just let the teenagers have a right to have their opinion listened to because it is extremely important. As somebody once said, “The only freedom you truly have is in your mind, so use it.”
yes we should
No.
No. They are very young and easily impressed. That’s what they want to do in Greece. They are being offered less hours in school so that the vote the current government. Totally not moral.
they voted in Scotland’s indyref1. In the run up, they held in school debates which enabled them to look at the pros and cons, the dream and the reality. The Scots pulled back in Indyref1 from uncertainty, because Alex Salmon was unable to provide a definitive structure for post Union Scotland, we assume therefore, that the Scots are better educated and more intelligent than their cousins south of the border who didn’t care enough to demand a definitive structure for a post Brexit Britain. But I also believe that the EU under Juncker is not a happy place either, and I agree that he needs to resign asap. The EU has to be the guarantee of rights and responsibilities that people can rely on beyond the fickleness of national governments, and it is failing to be that, that is for sure, and has done so for a while under this cold calculating fish
NO, not in this century: too young and too unexperienced…too influenced to take responsible decisions.
No
No.
No, they have no life experiences to decide what is right for everyone else.
16s can work , pay taxes, get married, consent to medical treatment, join armed forces… But “too young to vote”? Seriously??
NO! They are still to easy to get influenced, no matter what they are allowed to do or be. We don’t need more lunatics and stupid, but easy erning people in our parliaments. The rat-catcher from Hameln is friendly greeting through the year hundreds.
Yes !
The UE only cares for this as it thinks it can manipulate the 16,17 into voting for their agenda.Nevertheless, even if we dislike Angela Merkel, the tax benter Juncker the truth is that the youngsters of 16 and 17 nowadays are mature enough to vote
No.
Yes they should be able to vote
no.
Running short on votes so they want to cheat…..
absolutly not, not even 18’ers are ready and informed to vote…
schools do not do theier job in all civil matters to prepare the youngers for life ahead…
and even parents do a poor job…
As a 14 year old in a school in the UK where the majority of my classmates are 15 and many are only months away from being 16, I think I know what they think about the idea. Me and most of my friends are informed and would make a decision based on facts and research. However, most people don’t know anything about politics whatsoever. I was rather alarmed to learn that one person (and probably more) didn’t even know what party the Prime Minister stood for, let alone know how they would vote. Just the other day, we were discussing the Brexit debate in my Tutor and one other student said “Which one is the one that means we stop immigration? [someone replies ‘leave’] OK, I want to leave then, I don’t like the immigrants.” While I think we should leave, I think it would be wrong for him to vote on that basis. And I would go as far as to say that the majority of people in my school year could not even name 5 MPs, let alone decide how to vote. They would almost all just vote the same way as their parents/friends, which is not helping our democracy at all. I would not object if people were more like me and my friends in that they research before making a big decision such as how they will vote. Sadly that is not the case and I fail to see how it can be for a rather long time.
I would go down to 14. They are much saner than people above 60.
Yes. If they can have sex and kids at this age they should be allowed to vote.
I think be allowed to vote has nothing to do with age. It should come with knowledge
Why the question again?
In fact it is stated in a very misleading way.
The question truly is – should we go after 16 year old voters?
But the politicians do not have the guts to ask the real question!
And, by the way…
What is the politicians purpose for this “in diapers voting”?
Catch them while they are still young and malleable?
The answer is NO! Let them be youngsters! Let them live their teen years.
.
They are to busy catching Pokemons to vote.
… is it not the voting experience requiring an experienced wise life voting in other life dimensions?
No!
I think even some 30+ year olds shouldn’t lol. And by some logic people older than 80 shouldn’t as well, because let’s be honest, it won’t be their future for much longer. But hey. We live in a world where the opinions and decisions of even the most idiotic people count as much as those of the most brilliant.
Iam totally against this mesure !! When we give a right to a human we also give him/her an obligation !! I think that a teenager of 16 years old is not able to be given more obligations !! Voting is a hard task and we shouldnt have such expectations from a teenager who doesnt even know what to do with his/her after school life .let the teenagers be teenagers
Only left wing want young voters. And in my country they even wanted illegal migrants to vote. Why? Easily manipulated.
Better 16 year olds that over 70s…. First of all, the decisions taken will affect them and their future much more than a 75 year old that does not want change or progress… Secondly, with so much information going around today, kids nowadays mature earlier and have knowledge greater than the 75 y.o’s had in that age… Give vote to the future, not more power to people who are not that interested in change… Not that the older generation should not be voting, rather we need to balance their influence and needs or voice,with the needs of the younger generation…
Why voting, the choice is mostly bad anyway.
Something is terribly wrong with our system, our elections are not as free as they are advertised.
No, they’re not mature enough and have no life experience to make important decisions like to vote which affects a nation.
NO.Voting age should be upped to 21 at least.
no
No, unless you teach them about politics and voting in school and they understand fully what they are supporting and enabling with their vote.
They should.
absolutly not…
not even the 18’ers are ready to vote…
how many 18’ers know something about things like:
– how to pay taxes
– how to open a bank acount
– even how to get personal documents like CC or a passport…
I have a 19’er at my home, studing in 3 year University, voted twice, once for parliament and once to President
No, 21 would be much better.
Obviously not
SCHOULD WHEN PEOPLE VOTE AND GOVERMENTS LIES NEXT DAY MUST NEW ELECTIONS HAVE?????? OEO
No No No !
A bit too young.
No, no taxation no representation, don’t have a job, can’t vote
If you cannot support yourself you should not be allowed to vote. If you are living at home and 60 yrs old no vote. If you are self supporting at 16 yes vote
Well according to me , From 18 is better,,?
YES!
They shouldnt be allowed to vote because they are uneducated bout politics therefore they could be voting for the wrong party putting their futures in the wrong hands
A BETTER QUESTION
Should stupid and/or ignorant people be allowed to vote. How about a voters examination? If you know nothing about the country, the parties, the candidates, the country’s laws, it’s issues and challenges, then you should NOT be allowed to vote. Period. Trumps supporters beware, in an intelligent world, you would be excluded from decision making at the polls.
Hey guys , there is so much problem surrounding children in UK . I feel like childhood is just sugar-coated. If 16 year old can marry , work , join army why they cannot vote . There are so many things like tuition fees and stuff and if 16 year old people get a chance to vote then our democracy will flourish .
should the right to knowledge a human one?
No, there is more than enough not mature people among “adults”.
So if some adults are not mature enough means all tens are not mature??
No. Teen maximalism is the easiest thing to exploit via politic propaganda.
Correct
Also elderly people shouldn’t be allowed to vote from a certain age, much easier to manipulate, just look at Brexit’s demographics.
Voting should be allowed from 20 to 70 years old.
Qu’en pense Soros ?
That you are an idiot.
no
No
No
Of course not !! Neither the age of 18.
Bigger chances for politicians and media to manipulate – the younger the voter, the better for them. Why not let kids to vote? That would be fun…..
Yes yes and yes too. 15 will be the best bcz this is digital and star wars century and today 2016. 15 years age is enough for vote.
Yes .
No
Yes. If adults can vote for lunatics like Berlesconi, Blair, Ahern, Sarkozy, etc, then there is no reason to prevent 16 year olds voting.
Аnyone who wants to vote should be politically literate. For this purpose he has to go through training on social engineering, morality, freedom , love.
Did the current voters go through that training, I don’t think so.
I mean everyone
No no no 😨😨😨😨😨
No
NO, it should be 21 at least, a 16 years old today is still a child, a 18 years old as well, they know nothing about life, school and tv only.
Too young.
Make voting mandatory for the lazy adults, hiding behind “freedom of not voting and then crying to all that life is bad”, then we’ll talk.
young people dont vote anyway so it maybe good to build consciousness of voting
e.g. by allowing 16 years-old to vote..
If and when they commit a crime they are charge and tried as an adult give them their rights to vote.
No
No. Next!
The one argument I find in favour of it is budget. In some EU countries (like Portugal) youths are allowed to work by the age of 16, which means they’re paying their taxes and therefore contributing for the State’s budget. However, without the power to vote, they don’t get to have a say on how this budget will be spent.
However, I think it’s time we end the “ban” of politics in school and start teaching kids what their rights and responsibilities are as adults, so we have youths who are allowed to vote and qualify to vote.
Yes. It is only fair, that if a 16 year can be held accountable for murder and can have a job, he/she/heshe can also have a say in the person who is going to lead and strongly influence his/her/hisher future. ;)
If you of working age, you can vote- if you can be taxed, you can vote- If any of these are happening but you cannot vote- that is taxation without representation-
When politics affects the future- from future earns, savings job prospects, environment, then, of course, 16-year-olds should be allowed to vote- We moan and cry about feckless uninterested teens- letting them have a voice in their future is a good start in getting them engaged and less feckless and less lazy. Teaching youth to be more informed and interested in Politics would be a boon for all people in the country that allows it
there needs to be a mandatory voter law as well, as automatic registration.
No, they have to pay taxes first, be able to support economically them selfs
No, the majority don’t have enough sense nor knoledge to vote.
by the 1970’s younger people had to strugle for living…
by now 20’s and 30’s are still teenagers and dumb as logs…
Voting from 16 on. This is what we have in 🇦🇹Austria for years.
Not yet. They re confused enough by present world events.
sempre gli stessi post , sempre le stesse domande e sempre le stesse risposte. Come mai ? Che è una pagina fasulla ?
always the same post, always the same questions and always the same answers. Why ? Which is a fake page?
Τhe right to vote has alot to do with responsibilities. Thus the question is are voters (regardless of age) responsible enough to judge for the well-being of a society?
No
No!
deport all imigrants out of europe or END EU NOW.
yes
What are politicians trying to do? Get more votes from highly impressionable, low political savvy youngsters? Or are they trying to mend (not fix) the low voter turnout problem?
I believe the answers to my questions are YES, and so my answer to the question about 16 year olds voting is NO!
What are politicians trying to do? Get more votes from highly impressionable, low political savvy youngsters? Or are they trying to mend (not fix) the low voter turnout problem?
I believe the answers to my questions are YES, and so my answer to the question about 16 year olds voting is NO!
No.
No 18 yrs is seen as being an adult and an age of responsibility. Sixteen year olds are if you like still dependent genarally, usually have little experience outside a home or school. After the age of 18 they start being treated as adults, as people in their right. Gathering this real experience is what qualifies a person to vote its the difference between thinking you know it all and realising how much you need to learn.
Just two weeks left before I turn 15. I am totally capable of voting. At least if you look at the Americans.
Did you know that 50% of people who commented have said no and 50% have said yes with a total of 148 people saying yes or no.
i like pina coladas
yes i do think everyone deserved to be heard and given a chance
yes. Because if we are old enough to marry at 16 we should be old enough to vote.
no
Not even 18 year olds
Not even 65+ :)
Let’s bring dictatorship … so that resolves everything -_- cause we know it did help -_-
Some 50 year olds shouldn’t even vote lol. It’s not about age, it’s about mental maturity.
No.
In local elections maybe. I think it’s important for people to gradually assume electoral responsibility. If 16-year-olds vote in local elections and face the consequences of their choices, they will be able to draw on that experience before voting in national elections, which are arguably more important.
No
I believe voting must start after school ….
No in my opinion at least 21 years old
No, they I think it’s sensible that the voting age be the same as the age of majority.
No! I have doubt if 18 year old should vote… even some 20…
No, I think they can be influenced by parents or teachers.
Adults are influenced by right wing news papers so we can’t give them the vote, can we?
At kindergarden is more good, moroons !!!
Yes they shoud be after the mess the older generation cause
Yes and of course
Yes they should.
Yes
If he is aged 16 and has a top grade in his school then yes. It would even motivate some to learn more.
No 18 years for voting is a good age
Lol no
no…
Yes, of course
No. I doubt even 18-year olds should be allowed to vote. Maybe raise the voting age to 21.
In this case we can argue about the ability of right decisions by people older than 60 when many changes in the brain activity and memory are being observed. Should we limit the right to vote of people above 60?
Yes of course, European communism in western Europe will fall down much more faster because young western European peoples are left. I think the immigrants should have vote rights too. In Poland – young peoples are patriotic opposite to old peoples who votes socialists and back socialists up so vote rights will do us well.
Don’t mistake liberals for socialists. And even more young people are liberal and support the EU in western Europe then in Poland, country which is famous with the total lack of understanding what EU is.
Ivan Enchev, “European liberals” really are the same as new communists. What EU really is you can learn in video below. Lack of knowledge of reality will lead western Europe into totally disaster that we don’t agree.
https://youtu.be/Mf5A1y5qYp0
From the age of 5 children should vote and take the first German loan and then there is no problem
Children must learn first, then vote.
No, a sixteen years old is still a child with no practical life experience nowadays, only able to reflect the media opinion, it would be a democratical failure to have them vote.
No …. 21 is a ( good ) age
Yes ! The sooner the better. !
NO! Let 16 year olds be children. This is the age to be young.
Teach them about all the values that make societies really work. THAT is so much more important.
To let 16 year old children vote is to expose them to unscrupulous politicians who will prey on them just as much as sugar candy and toy manufacturers prey on children and teenagers today!
STOP this nonsense!
We’re talking about 16 year-olds, not 6 year-olds.
I am talking about 16 year olds!!!
NO! Let 16 year olds be children and young. This is the age to be young.
Teach them about all the values that make societies really work. THAT is so much more important.
To let, or worse, to make 16 year old children vote is to expose them to unscrupulous politicians who will prey on them just as much as sugar candy and toy manufacturers prey on children and teenagers today!
STOP this nonsense!
Only one who pays taxes should vote!
No. To young. – If you are young, you ask your next adult friend, what shall i vote for. It is not your own decision. – I thought for 30 years, it was my decision, than i remembered, no, i ask an Adult and so i was influenced. – To be 21 years for voting, would be okay.!!!
Absolutely yes!
Such “questions” mean that you are looking forward the 16 year old to go to work also.
I think not. Lack of political culture and many lack a basic understanding of the institutions of a state.
To be honest, and (to be clear) I do think they shouldn’t be allowed, if we veto voting rights based on cultural, political or legal literacy, a lot of adults shouldn’t be allowed aswell.
I think it’s about the proportions. A lot more over 18 know stuff that we mentioned simply because they have contact with them. Of course this is incremental as one gets older.
Anyway. We have different opinions and this is good.
Btw, i doubt what you are saying it’s actually true. Of course when sitting in a chair it seems like older fools don’t know anything. However with all my studies i was surprised when my grandparents gave me a lesson in political theory.(they don’t have Internet or a specific education)
My point is that as one gets older and has contact with the world he accumulates more political culture (loose term, but you understand what I mean).
Of course there are 16yrs old who know more than many adults. But try and think about the big picture. Most under 18 don’t have a clue what Socialist, Conservative or Liberal mean. It’s a learning curve of which we have to take account.
But it’s just my opinion. I don’t think i have to be right.
No to elections yes to referendum
If anything the voting age should be upped, not lowered. Even people in their twenties these days lack the mental maturity and political awareness to make their own choices.
Speak for yourself.
absolutly not…
not even the 18’ers are ready to vote
No! A 16 years old is not immature enough to be able to vote.
“Not immature enough”?
No, Miguel😊
Immature meens,is not capabile to take responsabile actions…Some are mature at 16… Some will never bee…sadly
There has to be an arbitrary cut off point. It makes sense for it to be 18.
Or 16
Not really, developmental psychology supports 18 plus there is historic and cultural precedent to the vote at 18.
As a psychology student I can attest that there is no developmental evidence that the voting age should be 18. There’s also a historical and cultural precedent for slavery but that doesn’t make it OK. It doesn’t make sense to remove 16 and 17 year olds from political decisions that may affect them for the rest of their lives, such as Brexit
As a psychology student you’ll know that the Formal Operations Stage of development ends at around 16 but can last until 17 or 18 in some cases. You’ll know more about this than me but it has been argued that the kinds of abstract developed in this stage are crucial for political decisions. It would make sense to start voting at an age where it’s almost certain that everyone has finished this stage of development. The historic and cultural points aren’t quite the same as slavery, I hope you can see that. Our education system and rights of passage/ways we tend to bring children up are geared up for people to vote at 18. Quite frankly I’m really not a proponent of democracy so it’s neither here nor there for me but you’d think that better decisions would be made by people old enough to have potentially done some work experience maybe even are independent. I guess ideally you’d increase the voting age further rather than reduce it. In addition to this if you look at voter turnout for young people it’s abysmal chances are is that you’d make the voting age 16 and only 5% of them would turn up anyway.
Don’t see why not. Most of times rather have discussions with a16 year old than with a old person, just because I think these later generations are more open to being accepting, and acceptance is key to ending wars and better compreension.
No.
Νο.. they are still romantics
No too young
If at the age of 16 one can have their offspring, why must these folks be prohibited to vote?
If they feel ready to do it, why not?
16 and 17 year olds will have to live with the politicial decisions of today for the longest (e.g. Brexit), it is undemocratic to disenfranchise them
They are minors, they are immature. Their parents decide for their future too, with due responsibility. The same as in financial matters or real estate.
A minor does not have all the rights of an adult — that’s why they are called minors.
“They are women, they are immature. Their husbands decide for their future too, with due responsibility. The same as in financial matters or real estate.
A woman does not have all the rights of a man – that’s why they’re called women.”
The same paternal arguments were used to deny women the vote. Some of the most politically aware people I know are 16 and 17 year olds. Denying them the vote is undemocratic
Get an education.
The rules of democracy are determined by our laws, which declare that the right to vote starts at the age of legal adulthood, that is, 18.
By the definition of democracy the voting age limitation is not “undemocratic” as you state.
You have to have a particularly twisted mind to confuse the status of *minors* and this issue with women’s suffrage.
What next? Political campaigns with Hello Kitty and SpongeBob?
Currently in college so I’m good on the education front thanks. Ever heard of no taxation without representation? Well people are taxed from the age of 16 so they should have the right to vote. Laws change over time and they should change with regards to this matter. Your terribly patronising argument does nothing to prove your point
What a wonderful idea for the cunning politicians and their sponsors/ constituents who need more naive and unaware youth voting for them. The young don’t know who is who and can’t remember all those old liars hiding in political parties whose names are so specious these days ….
Absolutely not!!
What kind of bulshitting arguments am I forced to read here? youth and unaware? As we have seen with many elections, those who fucked up our european solidarity have been the precarious and elderly people while the young have to face the consequences of decisions they didnt even make
Well when they are old enough they can change it if they dont like ,same as someone’s name or religion or school ,in life u have to accept things .but u are not experienced enough to know it
Dude, with the age of 16 research suggests that youre nearly fully politically developed. So ´tell me Elie, suggesting that you have to be old enough, how do you explane such events like brexit, where the overwhelming majority in favour was constituded by old, rural and precarious people? This doesnt make any sense at all. Have a nice day!
No…it is too immature politically to vote….but not immature to choose his sexual life….don’t confuse one with the other.
No! At 18 we have no idea who to vote! At 16 we would? 21 would be a better choise! Or 19 at least!
Elections is about your legal rights to push forwards and it does not need much
Yes you do. You need to know about the parties. You don’t just go there unknowingly. And you have to be able to judge, which at 16 you cannot.
NO. Who really knows about politics at the age of 16? Maybe one in a million, or something…Defently NO.
Already they are paying high prices for decisions made by some olders claimed to be aware of politics…
Look to U.K. and see that how far their young generation got disappointed as another side impacts of Brexit.
That is why they should be on the poll for their outstanding legal rights.
I agree…Young people are paying for the wrong decisions made by some greedy adults (as all of us) but, that alone doesn´t make them have the right to vote…The maturity, experience and knowledge aren´t there yet…
Absurdity! Let the kids alone. What we must think about is why adults so frequently don’t vote, or vote for fascists, populists, abnormals and that kind of nightmares…
No!
Recent literature in political sociology suggests that secondary politically socialisation is fully finished at the age of 18, while new scholars set this benchmark even earlier. It is so dumb (!) to assume that the older we are, the better our political choices are as well. The youth nowadays is pretty muched involded in political thinking and the best proof of that is fearing the voice they have as many incredibly stupid comments here underline that fact. So if the youth is really so dumb, how could our global political order become so fucked up if the majority of voters are 18 years and older?
No, no and no! Don’t you even dare…
No.
One should know something about the world, right?
Nooo
Yes, they are concretely related to any election results….In the societies where the aged adults are not ready to make the hardest and the best decisions, the youngest were found ready.
‘ Sorry
The world’s best roles in any revolutions and dramatic changes where played by them as they are the world’s future leaders..
Never …I agree with Elena Andersson !
The olders always were about their pensioning schemes ,while that younger generation paid for that through results and outcomes made by such political decisions. None put them in minds so seriously during any elections….Wherus , election campaigns and political decisions are all made in a way to full fill voters demands but not some one not allowed to vote!!….
They should raise the age again to 21 or even 25 ,u need to have some intrest in politics and some knowledge before u vote i even woild recommend an IQ test .
no no no +
No
To vote, to drink, to drive, to smoke. And to be elected too. 40 years old politicians are so bad teenagers can’t be worst.
I agree with you absolutelly
Yes
Against the majority commenting here: Yes of course! @ those claiming the youth lack of reasoning for political choices: How do you explain such events like Brexit, where the overwhelming majority voting in favour was constituded by older people? While at the same time, the youth have to suffer for this for decades. jesus christ, YES!
I think that politics is bollocks
Im 15 and think that 16 years old should not be able to vote
If my nan can vote at 16 why cant we
Hello just let us vote ffs :)
why cant we vote? smelly heads
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
HELLO JACK AND LIAM
My cat died recently and in its will, it wanted 16 year olds to vote. PLEASE
No! No! No! Never!
No.
No.
In many Eu countries the political education is so low that it would bring destruction. We would watch the populists rise even faster than today.
This is a topic we have to discuss in groups for our GCSE Oral assessment. I came across this article whilst researching into the topic. In my opinion the voting age should be lowered to 16, we should have a say in our future, though I can see where some of you are coming from. I know many people my age aren’t mature enough or don’t take things seriously, however a majority of my Set 1 English Class wish to lower the voting age. I believe instead of restricting all 16 year-olds from voting, the schools should give lessons on the political aspects of the world, I feel we learn quite a few things that we won’t actually need, we could be learning much more important life skills such as how to buy our first property, how mortgages work, how to be a parent- there’s a lot of things that could be changed within our country, we just need to be able to vote for what we think we need in our country.
– Iona Jones, 16, North Wales
I personally agree here. 16 year old’s should be able to have some sort of decision in there country as they are able to buy a house and pay taxes. So why shouldn’t they vote? We all learn from the experience of voting, it happens all around us and personally i believe we will all benefit from this opportunity.
-Nikki, 16, Glasgow, Scotland
nonot up
I agree with most of the point you are saying here and i do believe that it could be a great life changing decision for the younger voters. However, we need to stop and consider not IF we can make it happen but if we want to make it happen. 16 year olds are still young and they shouldn’t have the added pressure of voting. They are young and are extremely impressionable to a whole world of propaganda. Do we really want to put more weight on their shoulders?
I believe that 16 years olds do have the mindset and the independence to make a vote. If you look at the Scottish Referendum, over 89% of the youth aged 16 and 17 voted, and that is quite a significant result. If the youth (aged 16) in the United Kingdom were allowed to vote we would see a huge result. After all, the decisions that we make now are going to affect 16 year olds in the future. So why cannot we decide? Why cannot we vote for something that will eventually have an impact on our lives?
Perhaps. I would make an exception where only good students at 16 and 17 years old can vote.
Thats wrong mate.Be a good student doesnt mean that you have the right knowledge about politics.
Αντωνης Γκιοκας It doesn’t mean so, but the chance is just slightly higher. In my opinion at least.