Kingsley said in his travels across Canada as chief electoral officer from 1990 to 2007, he was "certainly impressed" by teenagers' knowledge and interest in current affairs. The advent of social media and personal devices have transformed how parties engage citizens in politics. With an election looming, I’ve been looking at as much policy as possible, and have come across some ill-considered remarks on this issue from Opposition Leader Bill Shorten and ex-Labor senator … The world is changing rapidly, so with so much at stake, ... Canada, West Germany (1972), Australia (1974), and France (1974) In 1984 Nicaragua became the first country to lower the voting age further, to 16, followed by Brazil in 1988 (for employed citizens). The voting age was changed once before, in 1970, when Congress lowered it from 21 to 18. Should the UK voting age be reduced to 16? The vast majority of 16 year olds are not self sufficient in Ireland, so why is there such a push to grant them voting rights? As an example of how different the times were, British subjects (who weren't also Canadian … B.C. There are many people in Canada who believe that the legal voting age should be lowered form 18 to 16. However, this is not a new debate. … At 14, you’re able to get a part-time job, at 16 we feel you’re mature enough to drive and to give permission to have sex or not, 18 is where we universally consider you an adult. Calgary City Coun. Newsletters may offer personalized content or advertisements. Canada has enough problems with uninformed voters we shouldn't be adding to the stupidity. That could mean the military draft age could be lowered, criminal responsibility ages would be lowered, and sexual contact consent could be lowered. George Chahal put forward a proposal to have the Alberta government explore the idea of lowering the voting age in municipal elections to 16 from 18 years of age. The voting age for municipal elections in some states was lowered to 16 shortly after 2000. After all, the most visible, and often most meaningful political engagement for most Canadians is casting a ballot. Lowering the voting age to 16 would be no arbitrary choice. "They were able to make a decision about what it is they want for their country and what it is what they want for themselves — which is what voting is all about," he said in an interview with HuffPost Canada on Monday. In short, there’s no concrete developmental basis for why 18 is the age we’re old enough to vote at all. “You can enroll for the Armed Forces at the age of 16. The Amendment was ratified in just four months, which was the shortest period of any in history. As an example of how different the times were, British subjects (who weren't also Canadian citizens) had the right to vote. But what about the teenagers’ perspective? Liberal MPP Author Potts proposed the same idea in the Ontario legislature this month as well. In my opinion I think the voting age should be lowered to age 16. John O’Dowd is a co-producer of This is Why. A few of those also conclude the legal age of adulthood should be raised to 21. Calgary councillor wants voting age lowered to 16. And again in Hyattsville, Maryland (the second place in the U.S. to lower the voting age to 16), registered 16- and 17-year-old voters had a higher turnout out rate than older voters. "We know that Canadians who vote early in their lifetime will continue to vote, and those who don't vote in the first few elections will tend not to vote later on," he said. This needs to change: The federal voting age in the United States should be lowered from 18 to 16. Copyright © 2021 HuffPost.com, Inc. "HuffPost" is a registered trademark of HuffPost.com, Inc. All rights reserved. The question of if the federal government should or should not lower the voting age is a question debated surely around the dinner tables of families in Canada… I don't support it. "We are always open to hearing from Canadians about ways to get more young people involved in politics and the democratic process," she said. It's a highly debated issue in the '40s. There are other ideas to increase youth participation in the works. Canada lowered the voting age from 21 to 18 back in 1970. Why, then, are 16-year-olds not allowed to vote in federal, provincial and municipal elections? When Maryam Monsef was minister of democratic institutions, she tabled a federal bill proposing amendments to the Canada Elections Act in November 2016. civic elections is Friday, September 14th at 4 p.m. Fight over snow shovelling leaves 3 neighbours dead in Pennsylvania, Ontario reports 1,265 new coronavirus cases, 33 more deaths, New Year’s Resolution: Getting a better grip on my golf swing during the pandemic. In 1969, Harold Wilson’s Labour government lowered the voting age from 21 to 18. They’re perhaps not ready for much quicker decision-making, like controlling impulses, but that’s not a part of the brain that’s needed for voting, so they’re okay there. READ MORE: The voting age may be a legal construct, but it ties into the fact that 18 … If you're old enough to work to support yourself and pay taxes, you'll have a better understanding of who you should be voting for. ANALYSIS: Should Canada’s voting age be lowered to 16? Canada lowered the voting age from 21 to 18 back in 1970. This soon-to-be 18-year-old will be eligible to vote in the November general election, but has no say in who the Democratic nominee will be. However, this is not a new debate. Is that person able to say, ‘This is what I want for the development of my country and this is in my best interest?’ This is what voting is all about,” Kingsley says. Peter Demong voted against the proposal and believes that any changes to the voting age will cause more problems. You can legally have sex, which implies it is the age at which the Government deems you old enough to become a parent. Albeit a little less than adults, we still pay taxes and we should have some sort of a say at least as to where those taxes are going.”. You can hold a job and pay taxes. :), Canada's "election chief" has no business proposing policy. Voting age should not be lowered to 16. 3 reasons not to lower the voting age Matt Gillow After a debate on Votes at 16 was filibustered out of a vote, here are three reasons not to support lowering the voting age. “The charter we have today is something that has evolved over scores and scores of years, and it’s not something to be tampered with lightly.” – Takoma Park Councilman Fred Schultz, The Washington Post, on why he voted against the proposal to lower the voting age, 2013 4. Despite the fact that Elections Canada has no authority to propose legislation to change the Canada Elections Act, Kingsley agrees the idea is one that Parliamentarians should pursue. Privacy Policy. The federal law allows it, since the wording of the 26th Amendment provides that citizens over 18 may not be denied the right to vote based on age. Premier John Horgan said he's open the idea. He praised countries such as Scotland, Austria, and Argentina for taking the "progressive step forward.". And for almost 50 years, that debate has been ongoing. 5 Reasons Why we Should Definitely NOT Lower the Voting Age to 16 – from a 16-year-old I, a semi politically savvy 16-year-old, strongly disagree with lowering the voting age. Liam Christy is 17 and recently brought a petition to lower the voting age to his local MLA. In 2013, when Takoma Park, Maryland, lowered its voting age to 16, registered voters under 18 had a turnout rate four times higher than voters over 18. Should the UK voting age be lowered to 16? Fifty years on, some believe the time has come to lower the voting age to 16. The nomination deadline for next month’s B.C. The idea of lowering Canada's voting age from 18 to 16 is gaining renewed traction after acting electoral officer Stéphane​ Perrault told CBC News that the idea is ", Canada lowered the voting age from 21 to 18 back in, According to Elections Canada, turnout among voters 18-24 increased to 57.1 per cent for the 2015 federal election. The pros and cons of lowering the voting age offer several benefits and come with several risks. NDP MP Don Davies made a case for it two years ago. Green Party Leader Andrew Weaver tabled a bill proposing to lower the voting age to 16. There have been arguments to suggest that young people aged 16 and 17 may not understand the significance of their vote, but Kingsley says it is all about our responsibility as a society to help them. "And it's a different ball of wax to get them interested.". Here are the pros and cons of lowering the voting age that we provided in the survey. 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Close. Research shows that voting habits are formed early in life and that those who do not vote early on may never pick up the habit. The 18.3 percentage-point increase from 2011 was called the "largest increase for this age group" since the independent agency started tracking demographics data in 2004. I think young people have a lot to contribute, yet life experience is required to make decisions that affect people of all ages. On the other hand, not lowering the voting age would keep… Critics against the idea are concerned 16-year-olds aren't mature enough for the responsibility of voting. If the voting age would be lowered in Canada from 18 to 16 then it will not only help the youth population to choose a right person as a prime minister for country but it will also give them a right to raise their voice regarding to what other benefits should be provided to adolescents of their age. / Jean-Pierre Kingsley, Canada’s Chief Electoral Officer from 1990 to 2007, says there are two simple questions we must ask ourselves. The idea of lowering Canada's voting age from 18 to 16 is gaining renewed traction after acting electoral officer Stéphane​ Perrault told CBC News that the idea is "worth considering.". Perrault told CBC News the idea presents a chance to engage young people in politics at an early age, in the hopes it'll develop into a lifelong interest. The voting age had been reduced in Austria from 19 to 18 at all levels in 1992. The Legal Drinking Age Should Not Be Lowered There are copious amounts of people who believe that the legal drinking age should be lowered to eighteen. https://t.co/fj8WfptRgc, — J.J. McCullough (@JJ_McCullough) March 19, 2018. Another argument is that lowering the age won't make a significant change since the turnout rate of the 18-24 demographic is traditionally the lowest. Sixteen-year-olds are not informed. I think we should encourage that habit at 16, not 18, by lowering the voting age in Canada. Washington, D.C. could soon become allow 16- and 17-year-olds to vote in federal elections. Man shot dead while filming robbery ‘prank’ for YouTube, police say, Tom Brady wins 7th Super Bowl title after Buccaneers beat Chiefs on home field, Michigan man killed by exploding cannon at baby shower, ‘Incredibly destructive’: Canada’s Prairies to see devastating impact of climate change, Coronavirus: Ontario premier, solicitor general defend changes to allow gradual reopening of businesses, Coronavirus: Ontario to announce phased economic reopening plans next week, sources say, Coronavirus: Ontario health minister announces plan to gradually lift of stay-at-home orders, U.S. Senate prepares for Trump’s second impeachment trial, Young Surrey woman becomes latest victim of B.C. The Kamloops, B.C., student says that 16-year-olds are mature enough to make their own opinions. When the voting age was lowered to 18 from 21 in 1970, many Canadians were already discussing whether we should stop there. Get the top stories emailed every day. When the voting age was lowered to 18 from 21 in 1970, many Canadians were already discussing whether we should stop there. With parental consent, you can actually fight for your country at 17. Earlier this month, B.C. gun violence, Calgary councillor wants voting age lowered to 16, B.C. © 2018 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc. Expand. To hear more on this topic, listen to this week’s episode of Global News’ original podcast, This is Why. I also even argue that 16-year-olds may be in a better place in life than 18-year-olds to start voting. Only 21% said that the voting age should be lowered to 16. … We set these stages up, so why would we play with them?”. COMMENTARY: Is it time to end ‘for-profit’ long-term care in Ontario? "Whereas by 18, you miss out by a goodly number of them," he said. “Is a 17-year-old person able to make an informed decision during an election and vote? Citizenship requires informed voting. But, they also think 45 is old. O pinion. Lowering the voting age is tricky under the law. To prepare for our presentation to the voting reform committee on August 30th, we asked our community what they thought about online voting, mandatory voting and lowering the voting age. “We’re not providing through our educational system, sufficient information for those people to determine. should voting age in Canada be lowered? Get a roundup of the most important and intriguing national stories delivered to your inbox every weekday. premier considering lowering the voting age to 16. The Supreme Court ruled in 1970 that Congress could lower the federal voting age, but it did not have the power to set the voting age for local or state elections. Put simply, age should not render an entire demographic powerless and without representation, and here’s my list of reasons why: 1) To say that teens shouldn’t have the right to vote because they’re too weak, immature, or simply aren’t smart enough to make an informed decision is the exact same argument that kept women, indigenous peoples, and minorities … That’s why the 26th Amendment was proposed in the first place. The idea behind this was that eighteen-year-olds are able to fight for their country … Voting Age in Canada The young as well as the older people of Canada seem to be in a deadlock. A US Senate report cited student activism and protests as reasons for lowering the voting age to 18 in the 1970s during the Vietnam War: “We must channel these energies into our political system and give young people the real opportunity to influence … Should it only be reduced when matters that concern minors are under discussion? 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