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A voting age is a minimum age established by law that a person must attain in order 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.

History

The reduction to 18

During the 20th century a large number of countries reduced the voting age from 21, with most lowering it to 18. The majority of these reductions were immediate, but in some cases a final reduction to 18 was preceded by one to a higher age (eg. 20). Exceptions to the voting age were also provided for in some countries on the basis of service given in conflicts such as the First and Second World Wars.

Czechoslovakia was early to act, reducing its age to 18 in 1946, and by 1968 a total of 17 states had made the reduction.^[1] 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 United States, 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. There were however some countries, particularly those in Scandinavia, which maintained voting ages higher than 21.

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 Morocco during this time. In 2007 debate is taking place in Japan,^[2] and a dispute is continuing in the Maldives.^[3] A reduction is probable to happen in 2008 in Lebanon as part of the new electoral law.

Further reductions

Around 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 Germany was lowered to 16. Lower Saxony was the first state to make such a reduction, in 1995, and four other states later copied the move.^[4]

In the 2000s a number of legislative proposals for reductions of the voting age to 16 were made in various U.S. states, including California, Florida and Alaska,^[5] but ultimately none were successful. Proposals were made in 2005 for a national reduction in Canada^[6] and a state reduction in New South Wales, Australia,^[7] but again there was no success.

Austria

The voting age had been reduced in Austria 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.^[8]

The voting age for municipal elections in some states was lowered to 16 in the early 2000s.^[4] Three states had made the reduction by 2003 (Burgenland, Carinthia and Styria),^[4] and in May 2003 Vienna became the fourth.^[9] Salzburg followed suit,^[10]^[11] and so by the start of 2005 the total had reached at least five states out of nine.^[12] 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.^[11]

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 Austria.^[13] The policy was set in motion by a Government announcement on 14 March,^[14] and a bill proposing an amendment to the Constitution was presented to the legislature on 2 May.^[15]^[16] On 5 June the National Council approved the proposal following a recommendation to do so from its Constitution Committee.^[8]^[17]^[18] 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.^[8] 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.^[19] The voting age was reduced when the Bill's provisions came into force on 1 July 2007.^[20] 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.^[18]

United Kingdom

A reduction of the voting age to 16 in the United Kingdom was first given serious consideration on 15 December 1999, when the House of Commons considered in Committee an amendment proposed by Simon Hughes to the Representation of the People Bill.^[21] 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.^[22] The Government opposed the amendment, and it was defeated by 434 votes to 36.^[23]

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.^[24] At this time a Private Member's Bill was also proposed in the House of Lords by Lord Lucas, and received a Second Reading on 9 January.^[25]

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.^[26] 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. Parliament 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.^[27] 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.^[28]

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".^[29] 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 Commons: "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."^[30]

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 Parliament.^[31]

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.

Nineteen United 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 Illinois 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. [1]

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. [2]

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 Man was the first to amend its law, when in July 2006 it reduced the voting age to 16 for its general elections, with the House of Keys approving the move by 19 votes to 4.^[32]

Jersey followed suit on 4 July 2007, when it approved in principle a reduction of the voting age to 16. The States of Jersey voted narrowly in favour, by 25 votes to 21,^[33] and the legislative amendments were adopted on 26 September.^[34] The law was sanctioned by Order-in-Council on 12 December,^[35]^[36] and was brought into force on 1 April, in time for the general elections in late 2008.^[37]^[38]

On 31 October 2007 a proposal^[39]^[40] for a reduction made by the House Committee of the States of Guernsey, and approved by the States' Policy Committee, was adopted by the assembly by 30 votes to 15.^[41]^[40] An Order-in-Council sanctioning the law was made on 12 December,^[35] 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.^[42]

Alderney and Sark, each part of the Bailiwick of Guernsey, have autonomy in deciding the question. Both have yet to favour a reduction to 16.

Other countries

Iran had been unique in awarding suffrage at 15, but raised the age to 18 in January 2007 despite the opposition of the Government.^[43]^[44] In May 2007 the Iranian Cabinet proposed a bill to reverse the increase.^[45]^[46]

On 6 May 2007 the canton of Glarus in Switzerland voted to reduce the voting age from 18 to 16 for cantonal and local elections.^[47]^[48]

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.^[49] When this happened on 25 July Bradford abandoned the idea, citing an adverse public reaction.^[50] The Bill would have sought to reduce the voting age to 16 in New Zealand 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.^[51] Following approval in the legislature^[52] 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 Territory in Canberra, Australia was tabled in the territorial legislature on 26 September 2007.^[53] This prompted the Youth Affairs Council of Victoria to voice its support for the making of a similar reduction in that state.^[54]

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 Timor, Indonesia, North Korea, the Seychelles and Sudan. The minimum age is 16 in Austria, Brazil, Cuba, Nicaragua and the Isle of Man (though Man is not a sovereign state). People aged 16-18 can vote in Bosnia, Serbia and Montenegro if employed. By contrast the minimum age in Uzbekistan is 25, which age is also used in Italy for elections to the Senate. 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.

Alphabetical list of countries

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

A

Afghanistan: 18
Albania: 18
Algeria: 18
American Samoa: 18
Andorra: 18
Angola: 18
Anguilla: 18
Antigua and Barbuda: 18
Argentina: 18
Armenia: 18
Aruba: 18
Australia: 18 (compulsory for all over 18)
Austria: 16^[20]
Azerbaijan: 18

B

Bahamas: 18
Bahrain: 18
Bangladesh: 18
Barbados: 18
Belarus: 18
Belgium: 18
Belize: 18
Benin: 18
Bermuda: 18
Bhutan: each family has one vote in village-level elections; note — in late 2003 Bhutan's legislature passed a new election law
Bolivia: 18 years of age, universal and compulsory (married); 21 years of age, universal and compulsory (single)
Bosnia and Herzegovina: 18
Botswana: 18
Brazil: 16 (mandatory suffrage from 18 to 70, military conscripts do not vote)
British Virgin Islands: 18
Brunei: no suffrage
Bulgaria: 18
Burkina Faso: 18
Burundi: 18

C

D

Denmark: 18
Djibouti: 18
Dominica: 18
Dominican Republic: 18 years of age, universal and compulsory; married persons regardless of age (members of the armed forces and national police cannot vote)

E

East Timor: 17
Ecuador: 18
Egypt: 18
El Salvador: 18
Equatorial Guinea: 18
Eritrea: 18
Estonia: 18 years of age; universal for all Estonian citizens
Ethiopia: 18
European Union: 18

F

G

Gabon: 21
Gambia: 18
Georgia: 18
Germany: 18 (16 for municipal elections in the states of Lower Saxony, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, North Rhine-Westphalia, Saxony-Anhalt and Schleswig-Holstein [5/16])^[4]
Ghana: 18
Gibraltar: 18 years of age; universal, plus other British citizens who have been residents six months or more
Greece: 18
Greenland: 18
Grenada: 18
Guadeloupe: 18
Guam: 18 years of age; universal; US citizens, but do not vote in US presidential elections
Guatemala: 18 years of age; universal (active duty members of the armed forces may not vote and are restricted to their barracks on election day)
Guernsey: 16^[55]
Guinea: 18
Guinea-Bissau: 18
Guyana: 18

H

Haiti: 18
Holy See (Vatican City): limited to cardinals less than 80 years old
Honduras: 18
Hong Kong: 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
Hungary: 18

I

Iceland: 18
Israel: 18 (17 for municipal elections)
India: 18
Indonesia: 17 years of age; universal and married persons regardless of age
Iran: 18 (changed from 15 in 2007)^[43]
Iraq: formerly 18 years of age; universal
Ireland: 18
Isle of Man: 16 (changed from 18 in 2006)
Italy: 18; 25 to elect the Senate

J

Jamaica: 18
Japan: 20
Jersey: 16
Jordan: 18

K

Kazakhstan: 18
Kenya: 18
Kiribati: 18
Korea, North: 17
Korea, South: 19
Kuwait: 21; males who are not in the military forces, and females (as of 16 May 2005); all voters must have been citizens for 20 years; current proposal for reduction to 18^[56]
Kyrgyzstan: 18

L

Laos: 18
Latvia: 18 years of age; universal for Latvian citizens
Lebanon: 21 years of age;
Lesotho: 18
Liberia: 18
Libya: 18
Liechtenstein: 18
Lithuania: 18
Luxembourg: 18

M

Macau: direct election 18 years of age, universal for permanent residents living in Macau for the past seven years; indirect election limited to organizations registered as "corporate voters" (257 are currently registered) and a 300-member Election Committee drawn from broad regional groupings, municipal organizations, and central government bodies
Republic of Macedonia: 18
Madagascar: 18
Malawi: 18
Malaysia: 21
Maldives: 21
Mali: 18
Malta: 18
Marshall Islands: 18
Martinique: 18
Mauritania: 18
Mauritius: 18
Mayotte: 18
Mexico: 18
Micronesia, Federated States of: 18
Moldova: 18
Monaco: 18
Mongolia: 18
Montserrat: 18
Morocco: 18
Mozambique: 18
Myanmar (Burma): 18

N

Namibia: 18
Nauru: 20
Nepal: 18
Netherlands: 18
Netherlands Antilles: 18
New Caledonia: 18
New Zealand: 18
Nicaragua: 16
Niger: 18
Nigeria: 18
Niue: 18
Norfolk Island: 18
Northern Mariana Islands: 18 years of age; universal; indigenous inhabitants are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections
Norway: 18

O

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

P

Pakistan: 18 years of age; universal; joint electorates and reserved parliamentary seats for women and non-Muslims
Palau: 18
Panama: 18
Papua New Guinea: 18
Paraguay: 18
Peru: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory until the age of 70; (members of the military and national police may not vote)
Philippines: 18 (16 for municipal elections and married persons)
Pitcairn Islands: 18 years of age; universal with three years' residency
Poland: 18
Portugal: 18
Puerto Rico: 18 years of age; universal; island residents are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections

Q

Qatar: 18

R

Réunion: 18
Romania: 18
Russia: 18
Rwanda: 18

S

Saint Kitts and Nevis: 18
Saint Lucia: 18
Saint Pierre and Miquelon: 18
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines: 18
Samoa: 21
San Marino: 18
Sao Tome and Principe: 18
Saudi Arabia: adult male citizens age 21 or older (voter registration began in November 2004 for partial municipal council elections held nationwide from February through April 2005)
Senegal: 18
Serbia: 18

^[57]

Seychelles: 17
Sierra Leone: 18
Singapore: 21
Slovakia: 18
Slovenia: 18 years of age; universal (16 years of age, if employed)
Solomon Islands: 21
Somalia: 18
South Africa: 18
Spain: 18
Sri Lanka: 18
Sudan: 17
Suriname: 18
Swaziland: 18
Sweden: 18
Switzerland: 18 (16 for cantonal and municipal elections in the canton of Glarus^[47]^[48] [1/26])
Syria: 18

T

Taiwan (Republic of China): 20 (there is a current proposal to lower it to 17 from Taiwanese government)
Tajikistan: 18
Tanzania: 18
Thailand: 18 (compulsory)
Togo: 18
Tokelau: 21
Tonga: 21
Trinidad and Tobago: 18
Tunisia: 20
Turkey: 18
Turkmenistan: 18
Turks and Caicos Islands: 18
Tuvalu: 18

U

Uganda: 18
Ukraine: 18
United Arab Emirates: 18
United Kingdom: 18
United States: 18; however, in many states, persons 17 years of age are permitted to vote in primary elections if they will be 18 years of age on or before the day of the general election.
Uruguay: 18
Uzbekistan: 25

V

Vanuatu: 18
Venezuela: 18
Vietnam: 18
Virgin Islands of the United States: 18 years of age; universal; island residents are U.S. citizens but do not vote in U.S. presidential elections

W

Wallis and Futuna: 18
Western Sahara: none; a UN-sponsored voter identification campaign not yet completed. The planned age is 18

Y

Yemen: 18

Z

Zambia: 18
Zimbabwe: 18

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.

Czechoslovakia: 1946
United Kingdom: 1 January 1970 (Representation of the People Act 1969)
Canada: 26 June 1970^[58]^[59] (federal elections, amendment to Canada Elections Act)

non-federal elections: Quebec in 1963,^[60] Manitoba on 10 October 1969,^[61] Ontario in 1971,^[60] Nova Scotia in 1973 following reduction to 19 in 1970^[62] and British Columbia in 1992 following reduction to 19 in 1952^[63]

Germany: 1970 [3]
Netherlands: 1971
United States: 1 July 1971 (XXVI Amendment to the Constitution, Alaska from 19, Hawaii and New Hampshire from 20; federal voting age previously reduced on 1 January 1971 by the Voting Rights Act Amendments 1970, ss. 302, 305^[64])

prior reductions: Georgia in August 1943^[65] and Kentucky in 1955;^[1] Guam in 1954^[66] and American Samoa in 1965^[66]

Finland: 1972 (from 20; previous reductions were 24 to 21 in 1944 and 21 to 20 in 1968/9)^[67] [4]
Sweden: 1972 (from 20) [5]
Ireland: 5 January 1973 (Fourth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland)
Australia: 1973 (New South Wales was the first state to do so, in 1970)
France: 5 July 1974 (Act No. 74-631)^[68]
New Zealand: November 1974 (from 20; previous reduction from 21 to 20 in 1969)^[69]^[70]
Dominica: 1974^[71]
Italy: 1975 (voting age to elect the Senate remained at 25)
Trinidad and Tobago: 1976
Denmark: 19 September 1978 (from 20; 53.8% in referendum; previous reductions were 25 to 23 in 1953, 23 to 21 in 1961 and 21 to 20 in 1971)^[72]
Spain: 29 December 1978 (1978 Constitution)^[73]
Belgium: 1981^[74]
India: 28 March 1989 (61st Constitution Amendment Act, 1988 read with Act 21 of 1989)^[75]
Switzerland: 1991 (from 20; referendum held on 3 March)^[76]
Austria: 1992 (from 19; previous reductions were 21 to 20 in 1949 and 20 to 19 in 1970)^[77]
Liechtenstein: 2000 (from 20; LGBl. 2000 No. 55)^[78]
Jordan: July 2001 (from 19; Provisional Election Law No. 34/2001)^[79]
Turkey: 17 October 2001 (from 20;^[80] previous reduction from 21 to 20 in May 1987)^[81]
Pakistan: 21 August 2002 (Legal Framework Order, 2002)^[82] [6]; was 18 under 1973 Constitution, then increased to 21, then lowered back to 18.^[83]
Morocco: 11 December 2002 (from 20)^[84]

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.

Nicaragua: November 1984 (from 21)^[85]^[86]
Brazil: 5 October 1988 (Constitution of the Federative Republic of Brazil, 1988)^[87]
Isle of Man: 11 July 2006; legislation brought into force in time for general election held on 23 November 2006^[88]
Austria: 1 July 2007 (BGBl. No. 1/1930, as amended)^[20]
Guernsey: 19 December 2007 (Reform (Guernsey) (Amendment) Law, 2007)^[55]^[42]
Jersey: 1 April 2008 (Public Elections (Amendment No. 2) (Jersey) Law 2008)^[36]

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

Austrian Greens
Austrian Social Democrats [7]
Liberales Froum [8]
vote4future.at, Austrian National Youth Council

Canada

Denmark

Social Democrats
Socialist People's Party
The Danish Youth Council — Dansk Ungdoms Fællesråd, Denmark, [9]

Germany

K.R.Ä.T.Z.Ä.

Ireland

United Kingdom

United States

Notes

^ ^a ^b "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.
^ Nakata, Hiroko (2007-05-18). "Panel mulls lowering voting age to 18". The Japan Times. Retrieved 2007-07-06. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
^ Moosa, A.S.I. (2007-04-01). "The murderous dictator and the 'Bullet-Ballot' propaganda". Dhivehi Observer. Retrieved 2007-07-06. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d 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.
^ Worldwide Efforts to Lower the Voting Age, National Youth Rights Association
^ Parliament of Canada, Bill C-261 (2005); Vote16, Canada
^ Parliament of New South Wales, Parliamentary Electorates and Elections Amendment (Voting Age) Bill (2005); Hansard, 14 September 2005, p. 17686.
^ ^a ^b ^c Wählen mit 16, Briefwahl, fünfjährige Gesetzgebungsperiode kommen, Republik Österreich Parlament (German). Retrieved on 6 June 2007.
^ Austria joins the votes at 16 club, Votes at 16. Retrieved on 6 June 2007.
^ Lowering the Electoral Age, Austrian National Youth Council. Retrieved on 6 June 2007.
^ ^a ^b Elections, Demokratiezentrum Wien. Retrieved on 6 June 2007.
^ Committee on Rights of Child Considers Second Periodic Report of Austria, UNHCHR, 14 January 2005.
^ Oleksyn, Veronika (2007-01-12). "Austrians split on voting at age 16 plan". AP/washingtonpost.com. Retrieved 2007-02-02. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
^ "Austria lowers voting age". IOL, South Africa. 2007-03-14. Retrieved 2007-03-30. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
^ "Austria lowers voting age to 16". News 24, South Africa. 2007-05-03. Retrieved 2007-05-06. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
^ 94 d.B. (XXIII. GP) Bundesverfassungsgesetz, mit dem das Bundes-Verfassungsgesetz geändert wird, Republik Österreich Parlament (German).
^ Verfassungsausschuss gibt grünes Licht für Wahlrechtsreform, Republik Österreich Parlament (German). Retrieved on 25 May 2007.
^ ^a ^b "Austria lowers voting age to 16". EUX.tv — the Europe Channel, The Netherlands. 2007-06-05. Retrieved 2007-06-06. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
^ Wahlrechtsreform 2007 passiert den Bundesrat, Republik Österreich Parlament (German). Retrieved on 30 June 2007.
^ ^a ^b ^c 31/BNR (XXIII. GP) Bundes-Verfassungsgesetz, ss. 1, 5 and 25, Republik Österreich Parlament (German). Retrieved on 1 July 2007.
^ HC Deb, 15 Dec 1999, Vol. 341, cc. 305-338. Retrieved on 3 November 2007.
^ Ibid, at c. 336.
^ Ibid, at c. 336.
^ "'A real chance to improve British Politics' - Votes at 16 Campaign Launches". Votes at 16. 2003-01-29. Retrieved 2007-11-03. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
^ The Voting Age (Reduction to 16) Bill (HL).
^ Age of Electoral Majority, Electoral Commission, 19 April 2004, para. 8.16
^ "Political system faces 'meltdown'". BBC News. 2006-02-27. Retrieved 2007-11-03. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
^ "And so does Gordon Brown". Votes at 16. 2006-02-27. Retrieved 2007-11-03. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
^ The Governance of Britain, UK Ministry of Justice, 3 July 2007, para. 190. Retrieved on 5 July 2007.
^ HC Deb, 3 Jul 2007, Vol. 462, c. 819. Retrieved on 5 July 2007.
^ "'Vote at 16' move backed by SNP". BBC News. 2007-10-27. Retrieved 2007-11-03. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
^ "Teenagers vote in Manx election". BBC News. 2006-07-13. Retrieved 2007-05-09. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
^ Vote P63/2007, States of Jersey, 4 July 2007. Retrieved on 6 July 2007.
^ States of Jersey Minutes, 26 September 2007. Retrieved on 24 October 2007.
^ ^a ^b 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.
^ ^a ^b Public Elections (Amendment No. 2) (Jersey) Law 2008, Jersey Legal Information Board. Retrieved on 15 January 2008.
^ Public Elections: reduction in voting age to 16, States of Jersey, 15 May 2007. Retrieved on 6 July 2007.
^ Public Elections (Amendment No. 2) (Jersey) Law 2007 (Appointed Day) Act 2008, Jersey Legal Information Board. Retrieved on 13 April 2008.
^ "'Give our young people a voice'". The Guernsey Press and Star. 2007-09-18. Retrieved 2007-09-23. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
^ ^a ^b Billet d'État XXII 2007 (October) & Resolutions, States of Guernsey. Retrieved on 20 December 2007.
^ "Too young at 16 to vote – deputy". The Guernsey Press and Star. 2007-11-02. Retrieved 2007-11-03. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
^ ^a ^b "16 Year Olds Can Vote in General Election". States of Guernsey — The Official Guernsey Government Website. 2007-12-19. Retrieved 2008-01-15. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
^ ^a ^b "Iran raises voting age to 18". Iran Focus. 2007-01-14. Retrieved 2007-02-04. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
^ "Iran Parliament raises voting age to 18". IranMania. 2007-01-03. Retrieved 2007-05-06. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
^ "Bill may lower voting age to 15". Press TV. 2007-05-02. Retrieved 2007-05-06. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
^ "President planning to lower voting age". Press TV. 2007-09-23. Retrieved 2007-09-23. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
^ ^a ^b "Swiss canton drops voting age to 16". AP/International Herald Tribune Europe. 2007-05-06. Retrieved 2007-05-09. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
^ ^a ^b "Glarus lowers voting age to 16". 24 Heures. 2007-05-07. Retrieved 2007-05-09. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
^ Bradford launches Bill to lower voting age to 16, Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand, 21 June 2007. Retrieved on 2 July 2007.
^ "Green MP abandons voting age bill". Radio New Zealand News. 2007-07-26. Retrieved 2007-07-26. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
^ Morgan, Jeremy (2007-09-09). "Further details of Chavez' package of constitutional reforms are emerging". Caracas Daily Journal. Retrieved 2007-07-29. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
^ Walter, Matthew (2007-10-11). "Venezuela May Lower Voting Age, Add Gay Rights in Constitution". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 2007-10-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
^ "ACT to consider lowering voting age". ABC News (Australia). 2007-09-26. Retrieved 2007-07-29. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
^ "Support for lower vote age". Herald Sun. 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2007-07-29. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
^ ^a ^b 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).
^ "NA panel lowers voting age to 18". kuwaittimes.net. 2007-01-16. Retrieved 2007-02-04. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
^ "Constitution of the Republic of Serbia". http://www.srbija.sr.gov.yu. Retrieved 2007-03-05. {{cite news}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
^ "Young Canadians and the Voting Age: Should it be Lowered?". Canadian Policy Research Network. 2005. Retrieved 2007-02-05.
^ "Canadian History 1900-1999". Canadian History Directory. 2007-01-01. Retrieved 2007-02-05. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
^ ^a ^b Elections Canada On-Line
^ Elections Manitoba
^ The Canadian Encyclopedia, Nova Scotia
^ Elections British Columbia)
^ Title 3, 84 Stat. 318, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 1973bb.; text reproduced in Oregon v. Mitchell, 400 U.S. 112, 223
^ "Suffrage Jr". Time. 1943-08-16. Retrieved 2007-02-05. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
^ ^a ^b Cheng, J. "The 'Qualified Voter' and the Minimum Voting Age". Department of Political Science, University of Michigan. Retrieved 2007-02-05.
^ "HS Gallup: Little public support for reduction in voting age". Helsingin Sanomat International Edition — Metro. 2007-01-11. Retrieved 2007-02-05. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help))
^ La Constitution du 4 Octobre 1958, Art. 3 and Le Code Civil francais, Art. 488
^ Elections New Zealand, "The Right to Vote". Retrieved on 5 February 2007.
^ Encyclopedia of the Nations, New Zealand. Retrieved on 6 February 2007.
^ Important Dates in Dominica's History, Lennox Honychurch
^ folketinget.dk, "Representative democracy and referenda"
^ Maravall, J.M. (July 1979). "Political Cleavages in Spain and the 1979 General Election". Government and Opposition. 14 (3): 299–317. doi:10.1111/j.1477-7053.1979.tb00247.x. Retrieved 2007-06-07.
^ Encyclopedia of the Nations, Belgium. Retrieved on 6 February 2007.
^ Official Website of the Chief Electoral Officer, Delhi, FAQs Q21
^ swissworld.org, "The political system in Switzerland"
^ Spannring, Reingard. Orientations of Young Men and Women to Citizenship and European Identity: Workpackage 1 – Socio-demographic Background: Austria (PDF). Institute for Advanced Studies, Vienna. Retrieved 2007-05-09.
^ Constitution of the Principality of Liechtenstein, Art. 29(2)
^ The World of Parliaments, Quarterly Review No. 4, IPU, 2001. Retrieved on 22 July 2007.
^ The Constitution of the Republic of Turkey, Article 67
^ Encyclopedia of the Nations, Turkey
^ Nadeem, M. Study of Pakistan Election System as “Intelligent e-Election”. Faculty of Computer Science and Software Engineering, Szabist, Karachi. Retrieved 2007-02-04. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
^ Encyclopedia of the Nations, Pakistan Retrieved on 6 February 2007.
^ "Morocco lowers voting age". BBC News. 2002-12-11. Retrieved 2007-02-05. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
^ Bowman, K. (2005). "Measuring Political Democracy: Case Expertise, Data Adequacy, and Central America" (PDF). Comparative Political Studies. 38 (8): 939–970 (Appendix C). doi:10.1177/0010414005277083. Retrieved 2007-02-04. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help); line feed character in |title= at position 31 (help)
^ "MacroHistory: Prehistory to yesterday: The Sandinista Revolution". Retrieved 2008-01-12.
^ Federal Research Division, Library of Congress (April 1997). Brazil — a country study. p. 300. ISBN 9781579802998. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
^ Representation of the People (Amendment) Act 2006, s. 4

External links

[Maryland-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] Nakata, Hiroko (2007-05-18). "Panel mulls lowering voting age to 18". The Japan Times. Retrieved 2007-07-06. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

[3] Moosa, A.S.I. (2007-04-01). "The murderous dictator and the 'Bullet-Ballot' propaganda". Dhivehi Observer. Retrieved 2007-07-06. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

[16_locals-4] 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.

[5] Worldwide Efforts to Lower the Voting Age, National Youth Rights Association

[6] Parliament of Canada, Bill C-261 (2005); Vote16, Canada

[7] Parliament of New South Wales, Parliamentary Electorates and Elections Amendment (Voting Age) Bill (2005); Hansard, 14 September 2005, p. 17686.

[NR_pass-8] Wählen mit 16, Briefwahl, fünfjährige Gesetzgebungsperiode kommen, Republik Österreich Parlament (German). Retrieved on 6 June 2007.

[9] Austria joins the votes at 16 club, Votes at 16. Retrieved on 6 June 2007.

[ANYC-10] Lowering the Electoral Age, Austrian National Youth Council. Retrieved on 6 June 2007.

[DW-11] Elections, Demokratiezentrum Wien. Retrieved on 6 June 2007.

[UNHCHR-12] Committee on Rights of Child Considers Second Periodic Report of Austria, UNHCHR, 14 January 2005.

[Austria_1-13] Oleksyn, Veronika (2007-01-12). "Austrians split on voting at age 16 plan". AP/washingtonpost.com. Retrieved 2007-02-02. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

[Austria_2-14] "Austria lowers voting age". IOL, South Africa. 2007-03-14. Retrieved 2007-03-30. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

[Austria_3-15] "Austria lowers voting age to 16". News 24, South Africa. 2007-05-03. Retrieved 2007-05-06. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

[16] 94 d.B. (XXIII. GP) Bundesverfassungsgesetz, mit dem das Bundes-Verfassungsgesetz geändert wird, Republik Österreich Parlament (German).

[17] Verfassungsausschuss gibt grünes Licht für Wahlrechtsreform, Republik Österreich Parlament (German). Retrieved on 25 May 2007.

[Austria_4-18] "Austria lowers voting age to 16". EUX.tv — the Europe Channel, The Netherlands. 2007-06-05. Retrieved 2007-06-06. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

[19] Wahlrechtsreform 2007 passiert den Bundesrat, Republik Österreich Parlament (German). Retrieved on 30 June 2007.

[final_Austria_Bill-20] 31/BNR (XXIII. GP) Bundes-Verfassungsgesetz, ss. 1, 5 and 25, Republik Österreich Parlament (German). Retrieved on 1 July 2007.

[21] HC Deb, 15 Dec 1999, Vol. 341, cc. 305-338. Retrieved on 3 November 2007.

[22] Ibid, at c. 336.

[23] Ibid, at c. 336.

[24] "'A real chance to improve British Politics' - Votes at 16 Campaign Launches". Votes at 16. 2003-01-29. Retrieved 2007-11-03. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

[25] The Voting Age (Reduction to 16) Bill (HL).

[26] Age of Electoral Majority, Electoral Commission, 19 April 2004, para. 8.16

[27] "Political system faces 'meltdown'". BBC News. 2006-02-27. Retrieved 2007-11-03. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

[28] "And so does Gordon Brown". Votes at 16. 2006-02-27. Retrieved 2007-11-03. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

[29] The Governance of Britain, UK Ministry of Justice, 3 July 2007, para. 190. Retrieved on 5 July 2007.

[30] HC Deb, 3 Jul 2007, Vol. 462, c. 819. Retrieved on 5 July 2007.

[31] "'Vote at 16' move backed by SNP". BBC News. 2007-10-27. Retrieved 2007-11-03. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

[32] "Teenagers vote in Manx election". BBC News. 2006-07-13. Retrieved 2007-05-09. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

[33] Vote P63/2007, States of Jersey, 4 July 2007. Retrieved on 6 July 2007.

[34] States of Jersey Minutes, 26 September 2007. Retrieved on 24 October 2007.

[PC_sanction-35] 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.

[Jersey_law-36] Public Elections (Amendment No. 2) (Jersey) Law 2008, Jersey Legal Information Board. Retrieved on 15 January 2008.

[37] Public Elections: reduction in voting age to 16, States of Jersey, 15 May 2007. Retrieved on 6 July 2007.

[38] Public Elections (Amendment No. 2) (Jersey) Law 2007 (Appointed Day) Act 2008, Jersey Legal Information Board. Retrieved on 13 April 2008.

[39] "'Give our young people a voice'". The Guernsey Press and Star. 2007-09-18. Retrieved 2007-09-23. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

[States_of_Guernsey-40] Billet d'État XXII 2007 (October) & Resolutions, States of Guernsey. Retrieved on 20 December 2007.

[41] "Too young at 16 to vote – deputy". The Guernsey Press and Star. 2007-11-02. Retrieved 2007-11-03. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

[Guernsey_Court-42] "16 Year Olds Can Vote in General Election". States of Guernsey — The Official Guernsey Government Website. 2007-12-19. Retrieved 2008-01-15. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

[Iran_increase-43] "Iran raises voting age to 18". Iran Focus. 2007-01-14. Retrieved 2007-02-04. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

[44] "Iran Parliament raises voting age to 18". IranMania. 2007-01-03. Retrieved 2007-05-06. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

[45] "Bill may lower voting age to 15". Press TV. 2007-05-02. Retrieved 2007-05-06. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

[46] "President planning to lower voting age". Press TV. 2007-09-23. Retrieved 2007-09-23. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

[Glarus_1-47] "Swiss canton drops voting age to 16". AP/International Herald Tribune Europe. 2007-05-06. Retrieved 2007-05-09. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

[Glarus_2-48] "Glarus lowers voting age to 16". 24 Heures. 2007-05-07. Retrieved 2007-05-09. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

[49] Bradford launches Bill to lower voting age to 16, Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand, 21 June 2007. Retrieved on 2 July 2007.

[50] "Green MP abandons voting age bill". Radio New Zealand News. 2007-07-26. Retrieved 2007-07-26. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

[51] Morgan, Jeremy (2007-09-09). "Further details of Chavez' package of constitutional reforms are emerging". Caracas Daily Journal. Retrieved 2007-07-29. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

[52] Walter, Matthew (2007-10-11). "Venezuela May Lower Voting Age, Add Gay Rights in Constitution". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 2007-10-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

[53] "ACT to consider lowering voting age". ABC News (Australia). 2007-09-26. Retrieved 2007-07-29. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

[54] "Support for lower vote age". Herald Sun. 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2007-07-29. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

[Guernsey_law-55] 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).

[56] "NA panel lowers voting age to 18". kuwaittimes.net. 2007-01-16. Retrieved 2007-02-04. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

[57] "Constitution of the Republic of Serbia". http://www.srbija.sr.gov.yu. Retrieved 2007-03-05. {{cite news}}: External link in |publisher= (help)

[58] "Young Canadians and the Voting Age: Should it be Lowered?". Canadian Policy Research Network. 2005. Retrieved 2007-02-05.

[59] "Canadian History 1900-1999". Canadian History Directory. 2007-01-01. Retrieved 2007-02-05. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

[Canada-60] Elections Canada On-Line

[61] Elections Manitoba

[62] The Canadian Encyclopedia, Nova Scotia

[63] Elections British Columbia)

[64] Title 3, 84 Stat. 318, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 1973bb.; text reproduced in Oregon v. Mitchell, 400 U.S. 112, 223

[65] "Suffrage Jr". Time. 1943-08-16. Retrieved 2007-02-05. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

[Cheng-66] Cheng, J. "The 'Qualified Voter' and the Minimum Voting Age". Department of Political Science, University of Michigan. Retrieved 2007-02-05.

[67] "HS Gallup: Little public support for reduction in voting age". Helsingin Sanomat International Edition — Metro. 2007-01-11. Retrieved 2007-02-05. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help))

[68] La Constitution du 4 Octobre 1958, Art. 3 and Le Code Civil francais, Art. 488

[69] Elections New Zealand, "The Right to Vote". Retrieved on 5 February 2007.

[70] Encyclopedia of the Nations, New Zealand. Retrieved on 6 February 2007.

[71] Important Dates in Dominica's History, Lennox Honychurch

[72] tinget.dk, "Representative democracy and referenda"

[73] Maravall, J.M. (July 1979). "Political Cleavages in Spain and the 1979 General Election". Government and Opposition. 14 (3): 299–317. doi:10.1111/j.1477-7053.1979.tb00247.x. Retrieved 2007-06-07.

[74] Encyclopedia of the Nations, Belgium. Retrieved on 6 February 2007.

[75] Official Website of the Chief Electoral Officer, Delhi, FAQs Q21

[76] swissworld.org, "The political system in Switzerland"

[77] Spannring, Reingard. Orientations of Young Men and Women to Citizenship and European Identity: Workpackage 1 – Socio-demographic Background: Austria (PDF). Institute for Advanced Studies, Vienna. Retrieved 2007-05-09.

[78] Constitution of the Principality of Liechtenstein, Art. 29(2)

[79] The World of Parliaments, Quarterly Review No. 4, IPU, 2001. Retrieved on 22 July 2007.

[80] The Constitution of the Republic of Turkey, Article 67

[81] Encyclopedia of the Nations, Turkey

[82] Nadeem, M. Study of Pakistan Election System as “Intelligent e-Election”. Faculty of Computer Science and Software Engineering, Szabist, Karachi. Retrieved 2007-02-04. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)

[83] Encyclopedia of the Nations, Pakistan Retrieved on 6 February 2007.

[84] "Morocco lowers voting age". BBC News. 2002-12-11. Retrieved 2007-02-05. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

[85] Bowman, K. (2005). "Measuring Political Democracy: Case Expertise, Data Adequacy, and Central America" (PDF). Comparative Political Studies. 38 (8): 939–970 (Appendix C). doi:10.1177/0010414005277083. Retrieved 2007-02-04. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help); line feed character in |title= at position 31 (help)

[86] "MacroHistory: Prehistory to yesterday: The Sandinista Revolution". Retrieved 2008-01-12.

[87] Federal Research Division, Library of Congress (April 1997). Brazil — a country study. p. 300. ISBN 9781579802998. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

[88] Representation of the People (Amendment) Act 2006, s. 4

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Revision as of 20:00, 9 August 2008

History

The reduction to 18

Further reductions

Austria

United Kingdom

United States

Crown dependencies

Other countries

Voting ages around the world

Alphabetical list of countries

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

U

V

W

Y

Z

Chronology of lowering the voting age to 18

Chronology of lowering the voting age to 16

Organizations in favour of lowering the voting age

Alphabetical list of countries

Australia

Austria

Canada

Denmark

Germany

Ireland

Netherlands

New Zealand

Norway

Spain

United Kingdom

United States

Notes

Further reading

See also

External links