14/12/2010 Political Affairs and Democracy
At a hearing in Paris on the expansion of democracy by lowering the voting age to 16, the rapporteur of the PACE Political Affairs Committee on this issue, Miloš Aligrudic (Serbia, EPP/CD), today said that lowering the voting age from 18 to 16 should be strongly encouraged as the period of adolescence was of paramount importance for the future citizen. “Those who are below 18 and wish to vote should register on Voting Registers on their own. This is aimed at solving the problems related to the turnout of young voters, and participation of the young,” the rapporteur stressed.
He added that this step would make young people more aware of their responsibilities. “This would not only bring new blood into the electorate and thus give greater expression to young people’s concerns, but it would also be an effective means of facilitating their integration into the structures of society,” he said.
Mourad Mahidi of the Brussels-based European Youth Forum recalled that the right to vote was a key aspect of democratic participation. “The earlier you start participating in democracy, the higher is the likelihood that you will continue participating in the political decision-making process later on,” he added.
Participants agreed that the very principles of democracy called for the participation of the largest possible number of people in policy-making. While 18 is still the age favoured by the great majority of Council of Europe member states, Austria has lowered the voting age for all elections to 16. Its lead was followed by Germany and Switzerland, but at sub-national level only, as some states and cantons have allowed 16-year-olds to vote in local elections. The Channel Islands have also lowered their voting age to 16. A debate on this topic is scheduled at the PACE plenary session in April 2011.