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A voting age is a minimum age established by law that a person must attain to be eligible to vote in a public election.The vast majority of countries in the world have established a voting age. Most governments consider that those of an age lower than the chosen threshold lack the necessary capacity to independently decide how to cast a vote. The voting age is often of such importance that it is set by means of a constitutional provision.

At the present time the voting age across the world is typically 18. When the right to vote was first accorded in democracies the voting age was generally set at 21, or in some cases at an even higher level. In the 1970s widespread reform led to a reduction to 18 in a large number of countries. Debate is currently underway in many places on proposals to reduce the voting age below 18. In May 2009, Danish Member of Parliament Mogens Jensen presented an initiative to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in Strasbourgmarker to lower the voting age in Europe to 16 (see http://assembly.coe.int/Documents/WorkingDocs/Doc09/EDOC11895.pdf ).

History

Czechoslovakia was early to act, reducing its age to 18 in 1946, and by 1968 a total of 17 states had made the reduction. A large number of countries, particularly in Western Europe, reduced their voting ages to 18 during the 1970s. The United Kingdom was the first such country to do so, in 1970. It led a swift and widespread sweep of the world's leading democracies, with countries such as the US (26th Amendment), Canada, Australia and France following soon afterwards. By the end of the 20th century, 18 had become by far the most common age at which citizens acquired the right to vote. However, a few countries maintained voting ages of 20 years or higher.

Consideration of a reduction to 18 continued into the late 20th and early 21st century in those countries that had not already made the change. Reductions were seen in India, Switzerland, Austria and Moroccomarker during this time. Since 2007, debate has been taking place in Japan, and a dispute is continuing in the Maldivesmarker.A reduction happened in 2008 in Lebanon after a long debate as part of the new electoral law.

Further reductions

the turn of the 21st century a number of countries began to consider whether the voting age ought to be reduced further, with arguments most often being made in favour of a reduction to 16. The earliest moves came during the 1990s, when the voting age for municipal elections in some states of States of Germany was lowered to 16. Lower Saxonymarker was the first state to make such a reduction, in 1995, and four other states later copied the move.

In the 2000s a number of legislative proposals for reductions of the voting age to 16 were made in various U.S. states, including Californiamarker, Floridamarker and Alaskamarker, but ultimately none were successful. Proposals were made in 2005 for a national reduction in Canada and a state reduction in New South Walesmarker, Australia, but again there was no success.

Austria

In 2007 Austria became the first member of the European Union, and the first of the world's leading democracies, to adopt a voting age of 16 for all purposes. The voting age had been reduced in Austriamarker from 19 to 18 at all levels in 1992. At that time a voting age of 16 was proposed by the Green Party, but was not adopted.

The voting age for municipal elections in some states was lowered to 16 in the early 2000s. Three states had made the reduction by 2003 (Burgenlandmarker, Carinthiamarker and Styriamarker), and in May 2003 Viennamarker became the fourth. Salzburgmarker followed suit, and so by the start of 2005 the total had reached at least five states out of nine. As a consequence of state law, reduction of the municipal voting age in the states of Burgenland, Salzburg and Vienna resulted in the reduction of the regional voting age in those states as well.

Following the legislative election in 2006, the winning SPÖ-ÖVP coalition announced on 12 January 2007 that one of its policies would be the reduction of the voting age to 16 for elections in all states and at all levels in Austriamarker. The policy was set in motion by a Government announcement on 14 March, and a bill proposing an amendment to the Constitution was presented to the legislature on 2 May. On 5 June the National Council approved the proposal following a recommendation to do so from its Constitution Committee. During the passage of the bill through the chamber relatively little opposition was raised to the reduction, with four out of five parties explicitly supporting it; indeed, there was some dispute over which party had been the first to suggest the idea. Greater controversy surrounded the other provisions of the bill concerning the Briefwahl, or postal vote, and the extension of the legislative period for the National Council from four to five years. A further uncontroversial inclusion was a reduction in the candidacy age from 19 to 18. The Federal Council approved the Bill on 21 June, with no party voting against it. The voting age was reduced when the Bill's provisions came into force on 1 July 2007. Austria thus became the first member of the European Union, and the first of the world's leading democracies, to adopt a voting age of 16 for all purposes.

United Kingdom

The reduction of the voting age to 16 in the United Kingdom was first given serious consideration on 15 December 1999, when the House of Commonsmarker considered in Committee an amendment proposed by Simon Hughes to the Representation of the People Bill. This represented the first occasion that the question of a voting age lower than 18 had ever been put to a vote in the Commons. The Government opposed the amendment, and it was defeated by 434 votes to 36.

The Votes at 16 coalition, a group of political and charitable organisations supporting a reduction of the voting age to 16, was launched on 29 January 2003. At this time a Private Member's Bill was also proposed in the House of Lordsmarker by Lord Lucas, and received a Second Reading on 9 January.

In 2004 the Electoral Commission conducted a major consultation on the subject of the voting and candidacy ages, and received a significant response. In its conclusions it recommended that the voting age remain at 18. On 29 November 2005 the House of Commons voted 136-128 (on a free vote) against a Bill for a reduction in the voting age to 16 proposed by Liberal Democrat MP Stephen Williams. Parliamentmarker chose not to include a provision reducing the voting age in the Electoral Administration Act during its passage in 2006.

On 27 February 2006 the report of the Power Inquiry called for a reduction of the voting age, and of the candidacy age for the House of Commons, to 16. On the same day the then Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown, indicated in an article in The Guardian that he favoured a reduction provided it was made concurrently with effective citizenship education.

The Ministry of Justice published on 3 July 2007 a Green Paper entitled The Governance of Britain, in which it proposed the establishment of a "Youth Citizenship Commission". The Commission would, amongst other things, be tasked with examining the case for lowering the voting age. On launching the Paper the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, said in the House of Commonsmarker: "Although the voting age has been 18 since 1969, it is right, as part of that debate, to examine, and hear from young people themselves, whether lowering that age would increase participation."

The Scottish National Party's conference voted unanimously on 27 October 2007 for a policy of reducing the voting age to 16, as well as in favour of a campaign for the necessary power to be devolved to the Scottish Parliamentmarker.

Crown dependencies

Moves to lower the voting age to 16 were successful in each of the three British Crown dependencies from 2006 to 2008. The Isle of Manmarker was the first to amend its law, when in July 2006 it reduced the voting age to 16 for its general electionsmarker, with the House of Keys approving the move by 19 votes to 4.

Jerseymarker followed suit on 4 July 2007, when it approved in principle a reduction of the voting age to 16. The States of Jerseymarker voted narrowly in favour, by 25 votes to 21, and the legislative amendments were adopted on 26 September. The law was sanctioned by Order-in-Council on 12 December, and was brought into force on 1 April, in time for the general elections in late 2008.

On 31 October 2007 a proposal for a reduction made by the House Committee of the States of Guernseymarker, and approved by the States' Policy Committee, was adopted by the assembly by 30 votes to 15. An Order-in-Council sanctioning the law was made on 12 December, and it was registered at the Court of Guernsey on 19 December. It came into force immediately, and the voting age was accordingly reduced in time for the Guernsey general election, 2008.

Alderneymarker and Sarkmarker, each part of the Bailiwick of Guernseymarker, have autonomy in deciding the question. Both have yet to favour a reduction to 16.

United States

Purple indicates a state that allows 17-year olds who will turn 18 on or before election day to vote in caucuses or primaries.
In the United Statesmarker nineteen states permit 17-year-olds to vote in primary elections and caucuses if they will be 18 years of age, by election day. An amendment to the state constitution is being considered in the Illinoismarker legislature that would lower its voting age to 17 for non-federal elections, though states can set their voting age to lower than eighteen for federal elections as well. Because it only applies to state elections, seventeen-year-olds would not be able to vote in primaries and general elections for representatives, senators, and President of the United States even if the amendment passes the legislature and referendum. [66654]

To pass, sixty percent of each house of the state legislature would have to approve it, and it would then have to be approved over half of by voters in the November general election. [66655]

Other countries

Iranmarker had been unique in awarding suffrage at 15, but raised the age to 18 in January 2007 despite the opposition of the Government. In May 2007 the Iranian Cabinet proposed a bill to reverse the increase.

On 6 May 2007 the canton of Glarusmarker in Switzerlandmarker voted to reduce the voting age from 18 to 16 for cantonal and local elections.

The New Zealand Green Party MP Sue Bradford announced on 21 June 2007 that she intended to introduce her Civics Education and Voting Age Bill on the next occasion upon which a place became available for the consideration of Members' Bills. When this happened on 25 July Bradford abandoned the idea, citing an adverse public reaction. The Bill would have sought to reduce the voting age to 16 in New Zealandmarker and make civics education part of the compulsory curriculum in schools.

A request to lower the voting age to 16 was made during the consideration of revisions to the Constitution of Venezuela in 2007. Cilia Flores, president of the National Assembly, announced that the Mixed Committee for Constitutional Reform had found the idea to be acceptable. Following approval in the legislature the amendment formed part of the package of constitutional proposals, and was defeated in the 2007 referendum.

A report suggesting that consideration be given to reducing the voting age to 16 in the Australian Capital Territorymarker in Canberramarker, Australia was tabled in the territorial legislaturemarker on 26 September 2007 and defeated.

Voting ages around the world

18 is the most common voting age, with a small minority of countries differing from this rule. Those with a national minimum age of 17 include East Timormarker, Indonesia, North Koreamarker, the Seychellesmarker and Sudanmarker. The minimum age is 16 in Austria, Brazil, Cuba, Nicaragua and the Isle of Manmarker (though Man is not a sovereign state). People aged 16-18 can vote in Bosniamarker, Serbiamarker and Montenegromarker if employed. Some countries have variable provision for the minimum voting age, whereby a lower age is set for eligibility to vote in state, regional or municipal elections.

The only known maximum voting age is in the Holy See, where the franchise for electing a new Pope is restricted to Cardinals under the age of 80.

[[Image:Voting-age.svg|thumb|300px|right|Voting age:

]]

Alphabetical list of countries

The following is an alphabetical list of voting ages in the various countries of the world.

A



B



C





D



E



F



G



H

  • Haitimarker: 18
  • Hondurasmarker: 18
  • Hong Kongmarker: direct election 18 years of age; universal for permanent residents living in the territory of Hong Kong for the past seven years; indirect election limited to about 200,000 members of functional constituencies and an 800-member election committee drawn from broad regional groupings, municipal organizations, and central government bodies
  • Hungarymarker: 18


I

  • Icelandmarker: 18
  • Israelmarker: 18 (17 for municipal elections)
  • Indiamarker: 18
  • Indonesiamarker: 17 years of age; universal and married persons regardless of age
  • Iranmarker: 18 (changed from 15 in 2007)
  • Iraqmarker: formerly 18 years of age; universal
  • Irelandmarker: 18
  • Isle of Manmarker: 16 (changed from 18 in 2006)
  • Italymarker: 18 (25 for Senate elections)


J



K



L



M



N



O

  • Omanmarker: 21, universal except for members of the military and police.


P

  • Pakistanmarker: 18 years of age; universal; joint electorates and reserved parliamentary seats for women and non-Muslims
  • Palaumarker: 18
  • Panamamarker: 18
  • Papua New Guineamarker: 18
  • Paraguaymarker: 18
  • Perumarker: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory until the age of 70; (members of the military and national police may not vote)
  • Philippinesmarker: 18 (16 for municipal elections and married persons)
  • Pitcairn Islandsmarker: 18 years of age; universal with three years' residency
  • Polandmarker: 18
  • Portugalmarker: 18
  • Puerto Rico: 18 years of age; universal; island residents are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections


Q



R



S





T



U



V



W



Y



Z



Chronology of lowering the voting age to 18

The following is a chronological list of the dates upon which countries lowered the voting age to 18; unless otherwise indicated, the reduction was from 21. In some cases the age was lowered decrementally, and so the "staging points" are also given. Some information is also included on the relevant legal instruments involved.

non-federal elections: Quebecmarker in 1963, Manitobamarker on 10 October 1969, Ontariomarker in 1971, Nova Scotiamarker in 1973 following reduction to 19 in 1970 and British Columbiamarker in 1992 following reduction to 19 in 1952
prior reductions: Georgiamarker in August 1943 and Kentuckymarker in 1955; Guammarker in 1954 and American Samoamarker in 1965


Chronology of lowering the voting age to 16

This is a further list, similar to the above but of the dates upon which countries lowered the voting age to 16; unless otherwise indicated, the reduction was from 18.



Organizations in favour of lowering the voting age

The following are political parties and other campaigning organisations that have either endorsed a lower voting age or who favour its removal.

Alphabetical list of countries

Australia



Austria



Canada



Denmark



Germany



Greece



Ireland



Netherlands



New Zealand



Norway



Portugal



Spain



United Kingdom



United States



Notes

  1. "Lowering the Minimum Voting Age to Eighteen Years - Pro and Con Arguments", Constitutional Revision Study Documents of the Maryland Constitutional Convention Commission, 1968. Retrieved on 5 February 2007.
  2. Worldwide Efforts to Lower the Voting Age, National Youth Rights Association
  3. Parliament of Canada, Bill C-261 (2005); Vote16, Canada
  4. Parliament of New South Wales, Parliamentary Electorates and Elections Amendment (Voting Age) Bill (2005); Hansard, 14 September 2005, p. 17686.
  5. How old is old enough? - the minimum age of voting and candidacy in UK elections: consultation paper, July 2003, UK Electoral Commission, para. 3.6.
  6. Austria joins the votes at 16 club, Votes at 16. Retrieved on 6 June 2007.
  7. Lowering the Electoral Age, Austrian National Youth Council. Retrieved on 6 June 2007.
  8. Elections, Demokratiezentrum Wien. Retrieved on 6 June 2007.
  9. Committee on Rights of Child Considers Second Periodic Report of Austria, UNHCHR, 14 January 2005.
  10. 94 d.B. (XXIII. GP) Bundesverfassungsgesetz, mit dem das Bundes-Verfassungsgesetz geändert wird, Republik Österreich Parlament (German).
  11. Wählen mit 16, Briefwahl, fünfjährige Gesetzgebungsperiode kommen, Republik Österreich Parlament (German). Retrieved on 6 June 2007.
  12. Verfassungsausschuss gibt grünes Licht für Wahlrechtsreform, Republik Österreich Parlament (German). Retrieved on 25 May 2007.
  13. Wahlrechtsreform 2007 passiert den Bundesrat, Republik Österreich Parlament (German). Retrieved on 30 June 2007.
  14. 31/BNR (XXIII. GP) Bundes-Verfassungsgesetz, ss. 1, 5 and 25, Republik Österreich Parlament (German). Retrieved on 1 July 2007.
  15. HC Deb, 15 Dec 1999, Vol. 341, cc. 305-338. Retrieved on 3 November 2007.
  16. Ibid, at c. 336.
  17. Ibid, at c. 336.
  18. The Voting Age (Reduction to 16) Bill (HL).
  19. Age of Electoral Majority, Electoral Commission, 19 April 2004, para. 8.16
  20. The Governance of Britain, UK Ministry of Justice, 3 July 2007, para. 190. Retrieved on 5 July 2007.
  21. HC Deb, 3 Jul 2007, Vol. 462, c. 819. Retrieved on 5 July 2007.
  22. Vote P63/2007, States of Jersey, 4 July 2007. Retrieved on 6 July 2007.
  23. States of Jersey Minutes, 26 September 2007. Retrieved on 24 October 2007.
  24. ORDERS APPROVED AT THE PRIVY COUNCIL HELD BY THE QUEEN AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE ON 12 DECEMBER 2007, Privy Council Office, 20 December 2007. Retrieved on 15 January 2008.
  25. Public Elections (Amendment No. 2) (Jersey) Law 2008, Jersey Legal Information Board. Retrieved on 15 January 2008.
  26. Public Elections: reduction in voting age to 16, States of Jersey, 15 May 2007. Retrieved on 6 July 2007.
  27. Public Elections (Amendment No. 2) (Jersey) Law 2007 (Appointed Day) Act 2008, Jersey Legal Information Board. Retrieved on 13 April 2008.
  28. Billet d'État XXII 2007 (October) & Resolutions, States of Guernsey. Retrieved on 20 December 2007.
  29. Bradford launches Bill to lower voting age to 16, Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand, 21 June 2007. Retrieved on 2 July 2007.
  30. Bremen führt als erstes Land Wahlrecht ab 16 ein, Reuters, 2009-10-29
  31. Reform (Guernsey) Law, 1948, s. 28(1); amended by Reform (Guernsey) (Amendment) Law, 2007 (adopted on 31 October 2007, sanctioned on 12 December and registered and coming into force on 19 December).
  32. Elections Canada On-Line
  33. Elections Manitoba
  34. The Canadian Encyclopedia, Nova Scotia
  35. Elections British Columbia)
  36. Title 3, 84 Stat. 318, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 1973bb.; text reproduced in Oregon v. Mitchell, 400 U.S. 112, 223
  37. )
  38. La Constitution du 4 Octobre 1958, Art. 3 and Le Code Civil francais, Art. 488
  39. Elections New Zealand, "The Right to Vote". Retrieved on 5 February 2007.
  40. Encyclopedia of the Nations, New Zealand. Retrieved on 6 February 2007.
  41. Important Dates in Dominica's History, Lennox Honychurch
  42. folketinget.dk, "Representative democracy and referenda"
  43. Encyclopedia of the Nations, Belgium. Retrieved on 6 February 2007.
  44. Official Website of the Chief Electoral Officer, Delhi, FAQs Q21
  45. swissworld.org, "The political system in Switzerland"
  46. Eesti Nõukogude Sotsialistliku Vabariigi konstitutsioon (1940)
  47. Valmistumine Eesti Kongressi valimisteks
  48. Constitution of the Principality of Liechtenstein, Art. 29(2)
  49. The World of Parliaments, Quarterly Review No. 4, IPU, 2001. Retrieved on 22 July 2007.
  50. The Constitution of the Republic of Turkey, Article 67
  51. Encyclopedia of the Nations, Turkey
  52. Encyclopedia of the Nations, Pakistan Retrieved on 6 February 2007.
  53. Representation of the People (Amendment) Act 2006, s. 4
  54. The youth must have a say (greek) (Ecologist Greens)
  55. Labour Ireland - Local election voting age should be lowered to 16
  56. [1]


Further reading

  • Cowley, Philip and David Denver (2004) 'Votes at 16? The Case Against,' Representation 41(1): 57-62.
  • Folkes, Alex (2004) 'The Case for Votes at 16,' Representation 41(1): 52-6.
  • Hyde, M. (2001) Democracy Education and the Canadian Voting Age. PhD dissertation: University of British Columbia. http://hdl.handle.net/2429/12999


See also



External links

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