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SBS Australia
3 days ago
- Politics
- SBS Australia
The UK just gave 16-year-olds the vote. What would the same change do in Australia?
The United Kingdom government plans to give 16 and 17-year-olds the right to vote in all elections — reigniting debate about whether Australia should do the same. The UK will join countries like Austria, Germany, Argentina and Brazil, who have already lowered the voting age to 16. Supporters say it's a long-overdue expansion of democratic rights — and many Australians support the idea of making the same changes to voting laws. Independent MP Monique Ryan said lowering the voting age would be "beneficial to young people and to the future of the nation", pledging to introduce another bill to parliament that would "I believe enfranchisement should be extended to as many Australians as reasonable, including young people, to ensure that those impacted by government decision-making have a say in those decisions," Ryan told SBS News. "Early participation in the electoral process has been shown to improve political engagement. Young people can leave school, get a job, and pay taxes. They should have a say in who represents them and their interests in government." In Australia, lowering the voting age would require federal legislation to amend the Commonwealth Electoral Act of 1917. That means it would need support from the federal government — something the Albanese government has said it is "not open" to at this stage. What would happen if Australia lowered its voting age? The move has prompted many to question whether lowering the voting age would influence electoral outcomes or increase the political representation of young people. But a lack of comparative data makes it difficult to fully understand the potential impact of the change. Critics of the UK's recent move have said the change could benefit left-wing parties due to younger voters' political tendencies. Across the democratic world, there is a trend that young voters tend to prefer left and centre-left parties and candidates more than older voters. The Australian Election Study, undertaken after each federal election, has found the same trend from 1987 — the younger voters are, the more likely they are to be left-leaning. As age increases, so too does Coalition support. In the 2022 election, around one in four voters under the age of 40 voted for the Coalition, while 38 per cent of voters in the same age bracket supported Labor. Among gen Z voters — born between 1997 and 2012 — 26 per cent voted for the Coalition, while 67 per cent voted for either the Greens or Labor. The study found that no other generation included in the research had such a strong political preference at the same stage of life. However, the political impact of giving 16 and 17-year-olds the vote may not be significant enough to decide elections. According to 2021 Census data, 16 and 17-year-olds in Australia make up a small proportion of the population — around 2.31 per cent of the total population — with experts saying their impact on results is likely to be negligible. Christine Huebner, a lecturer in quantitative social sciences at the University of Sheffield, said her research indicated that including 16 and 17-year-olds in UK elections would not change election outcomes or make elections less representative. "They will have a very small impact on vote shares [in the UK] — and only in the most extreme (and improbable) scenario that all 16 and 17-year-olds turned out to vote and decided to vote in the same way," she wrote in The Guardian. Are there problems with lowering the voting age? Dr Sarah Cameron, a political scientist at Griffith University, said most Australians don't support lowering the voting age. "The Australian Election Study has been asking whether the public supports lowering the voting age to 16 in various surveys over the last ten years," she told the ABC. "What this shows is that it's about 15 per cent who believe that the voting age should be lowered to 16." "Whereas the vast majority of about 85 per cent think it should stay as it is now at 18 [years old]," said Cameron, who is also a researcher for the Australian Election Study. She said support is slightly higher among young people, but still a minority, at 20 to 30 per cent in favour. Cameron's statements contrast with a 2024 study from the Western Australian Commissioner for Children and Young People, which surveyed almost 2,000 young people across Australia about lowering the voting age. It found more than half of the participants aged 15 and under would like to vote, including 49 per cent who said they'd like it to be optional and another 12 per cent who said they supported it fully. However, 39 per cent said they did not want to vote at 16. Young people aged 16 and older were more evenly split — 52 per cent said they thought they should have been able to vote at 16, while 48 per cent said they should not have been able to. A 2024 study from the Western Australian Commissioner for Children and Young People found overall support for lowering the voting age in Australia among those aged 15 and under. Source: SBS News A key point of contention is how the policy would be implemented, with debate around whether 16 and 17-year-olds would be subject to Australia's compulsory voting laws. Cameron said making it voluntary for that age group could undermine long-term youth participation "by setting a habit of being able to not vote as opposed to setting a habit of voting and having it be compulsory". Making it compulsory would mean that eligible younger people could be fined for not voting. Ryan said she is in favour of compulsory voting for those aged 16 and above, but would support waiving fines for those under 18. Independent MP Monique Ryan has been advocating for the voting age to be lowered since before she was elected and says young people should "have a say in who represents them". Source: AAP / Diego Fedele Where do the pollies stand on it? It's not the first time the subject has been brought up. Ryan pushed for a similar move in 2022. The Greens have long called for lowering the voting age. In 2018, Western Australian senator Jordon Steele-John introduced a bill to lower the voting age, resulting in a Senate inquiry . The major parties did not support the change and it failed to progress. Again in 2023, Greens MP Stephen Bates introduced another bill to lower the voting age, but it did not progress to Senate consideration. Just this week, Greens MLC Robert Simms called for the South Australian state government to lower the voting age for state and local elections. Labor has also previously been in support of the move. In 2015, then Opposition leader Bill Shorten vowed to lower the voting age to 16 or 17, saying it was important to "tackle the apathy and cynicism of young people towards politics". But on Friday, Labor frontbencher Matt Thistlethwaite rejected the idea of the Albanese government pushing for the change, telling the ABC: "We are not open to it at the moment, it is not our policy." He said that, while it was "good to see young voices heard", many nations would be looking to see how the UK's change played out. Ryan said she had some support from crossbenchers and noted previous support from senior Labor politicians, including Shorten. "With the decision by the UK government to lower the voting age, there should be a strong impetus for us review the issue in Australia," Ryan said. "We're similar countries with similar values and should look to other countries for how they keep their democratic process fair and inclusive."
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Britain to lower voting age to 16, sparking debate among lawmakers
On Thursday, the British government, led by the Labour Party, announced major changes to its electoral system, most notably plans to lower the voting age from 18 to 16 before the next general election in 2029. Prime Minister Keir Starmer defended the reform, arguing that people who 'pay in' to the political system deserve to cast their vote and have a voice in how their money is spent. The electoral overhaul goes beyond lowering age requirements. The proposed changes include allowing bank cards to be used as voter ID and increased rules on political donations. However, these changes still need to be approved by Parliament before becoming law, according to The Associated Press. This reform fulfills a key campaign promise made by Labour before their July 2024 election victory, when they pledged to expand voting rights to younger citizens, per the AP. Global context The U.K. isn't alone in wanting to shift to a lower voter age. Last year, European Union members Germany, Belgium, Austria and Malta moved to lower their citizens' voting age to 16, as reported by Reuters. However, the global standard remains 18 years of age in most democracies. MPs in Parliament clash over electoral changes The announcement has sparked debate across party lines, with Labour Party members championing the change while Conservative and Reform members of the United Kingdom's Parliament have expressed opposition. Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner framed the reform as essential for rebuilding political trust, as reported by the AP. 'For too long, public trust in our democracy has been damaged and faith in our institutions has been allowed to decline,' Rayner said. 'We are taking action to break down barriers to participation that will ensure more people have the opportunity to engage in U.K. democracy.' Conservative MPs have responded with more skepticism. Tory MP Paul Holmes criticized both the substance of the proposal and the way it was introduced, expressing frustration that significant electoral changes weren't announced through a formal government statement. Holmes highlighted what he sees as inconsistencies in the government's approach to age-related rights. 'Why does this government think a 16-year-old can vote but not be allowed to buy a lottery ticket or an alcoholic drink, marry or go to war, or even stand in the elections they're voting?' Holmes asked during Thursday's House of Commons session, as reported by The Guardian. Holmes continued, 'Isn't the government's position on the age of maturity just hopelessly confused?' Reform party leader Nigel Farage and Reform MP Richard Tice both posted their opposition to the electoral reform in posts on X. 'Giving 16 and 17-year-olds the right to vote is an attempt to rig the political system,' Farage said. Tice called the move 'wrong.' Labour MP Lisa Nandy also took to X but to voice her support of the government's changes. 'Young people deserve a say in the decisions shaping their future and we're making sure they have one,' she said. The proposal faces a challenging path through Parliament, with the government's substantial majority likely to overcome opposition, but not without debate that so far has revealed fundamental differences in how British lawmakers view youth participation in their democracy. Solve the daily Crossword
Al Jazeera
4 days ago
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Is the voting system in the UK fair?
Government wants to lower the voting age, saying it aims to modernise UK democracy. The United Kingdom is set to make an historic change to its electoral system. The government has announced a plan to lower the voting age from 18 to 16. It says the move will modernise and strengthen British democracy. But critics say this is more than just democratic reform. So, what's really behind the decision? Is this about democratic renewal or short-term political gain? And has lowering the voting age worked elsewhere? Presenter: Adrian Finighan Guests: Afzal Khan – Labour Member of Parliament in the UK Yannis Koutsomitis – European affairs analyst Alex Deane – Political analyst and conservative commentator
The Independent
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
UK to lower voting age to 16 – but not everyone is convinced
The UK government has announced that the voting age will be lowered to 16 at the next election as part of a wider effort to restore trust in and 'future-proof' democracy. Votes at 16 has grown from a niche concern to become a salient – if contentious – issue supported by most UK political parties and electoral reform groups. The Conservative Party remains a holdout, but has never acknowledged the contradiction of its continued opposition to the universal lowering of the voting age while empowering the Scottish and Welsh parliaments to enact the measure during its time in government. This is a policy response to concerns about declining youth democratic engagement since the late 1990s. Since 1997, the UK general election turnout rate for those aged 65 years and over has consistently been at least 20 percentage points higher than for those aged 18-24. Some opponents argue that the Labour government is lowering the voting age to 16 for its own electoral interest, but we should remember this was a clearly stated election manifesto commitment. Votes at 16 was part of the package that delivered Labour to government in 2024 on a huge majority. That said, public opinion remains steadfastly opposed. The government will need to handle this tension carefully, ensuring that 16- and 17-year-olds are not treated as second-class members of the electorate as this debate pushes forward. For and against As when the voting age was universally lowered to 18 in 1969, the case for change has pivoted on perceptions of maturity and markers of adulthood. There was considerable political and public consensus in the 1960s that 18 was the appropriate age of majority and enfranchisement. This link has endured, and many people continue to think under 18s are too socially and politically immature to vote responsibly or regularly. Supporters of reform emphasise the need to align enfranchisement with other rights realised before or at age 16 – such as paying tax, medical consent, working, autonomy to make decisions about future education and work lives, and undertaking military (if not frontline) service. Opponents respond by noting the age of majority remains 18, and that the minimum age for many protective and social rights, such as marriage and leaving full-time education, has been pushed upwards to 18 in the past decade or so. But while 18 remains the legal marker of adulthood, transitions from youthhood to adulthood have become extended and complex. There is no single age point at which young people realise all the social and economic rights and responsibilities associated with adulthood. Biological maturation extends from late-stage childhood until early adulthood (mid-20s). Traditional markers of adulthood, such as financial independence, owning a property, or getting married and having children, are occurring later in life than in previous generations. It is more than 50 years since parliament last reflected and reviewed how society understands and frames issues of adulthood and citizenship linked to the ages of majority and enfranchisement. Lowering the voting age to 16 offers a timely opportunity to do so again. Extensive parliamentary debate lies ahead as this bill makes its way through to becoming law. MPs should take that time to discuss and build consensus around what British democracy should offer young people, and how enfranchisement should be conceptualised for future generations. Lowering the age is just the start Now that 16- and 17-year-olds are part of the electorate, we can hope that political parties will improve their responsiveness to the interests of young people. Unfortunately, where the voting age has already been lowered, we've not yet seen parties address their skewed decision-making, representation or electoral behaviour, which continues to favour older voters. The average age of elected representatives has remained around 50 years of age in all UK national and devolved parliaments, and higher in local government. Few young people join political parties or are active in their campaigning. There is also significant evidence that, regardless of whether the voting age has been lowered or not, young people are not appropriately supported to be politically and media literate to understand how and when to vote, and to make informed and independent voter choices. So, lowering the voting age should only be the first step in a more concerted effort to improve political literacy and democratic engagement as young people grow up. This should begin in primary, not secondary, school and continue through further and higher education. Elected representatives should hold regular school surgeries where they meet children and young people, and listen and respond to their issues and concerns. Young people need to learn to discuss political issues in school settings, and political parties should host election hustings in schools and colleges. Young people should also be involved in decision-making in their schools and communities. Lowering the voting age offers an opportunity to reinvigorate how we host elections to ensure young people enjoy voting for the first time – and encourage their future participation. Making electoral registration automatic, as the government has promised, will help. But joining the electoral roll is a significant civic moment in young people's lives. Schools should host electoral registration ceremonies where pupils are welcomed into the electorate by local elected representatives, and automatically given a voter authority certificate so they have an appropriate piece of voter ID. Political parties need to embrace this once-in-a-generation opportunity that voting age reform presents to secure the future health of British democracy.
ABC News
4 days ago
- Politics
- ABC News
Independent MP to push a lowering of Australia's voting age after UK decision
Independent MP for Kooyong Monique Ryan has vowed to introduce another bill to parliament pushing for a lowering of Australia's minimum voting age, after the United Kingdom reduced its voting age from 18 to 16. In the UK, the move would see an additional 1.6 million young people allowed to cast their ballots in the next election, in the biggest electoral reform in more than half a century. Ms Ryan told the ABC's Afternoon Briefing that she would be supportive of Australia implementing a similar move. "Around the world, there is a global move to lower the voting age," Ms Ryan said. "The fact is, in democracies we see that fewer and fewer young people feel they are actively engaged and supported by government and they're turning away from politics and what we want to do is bring them back. Ms Ryan said that she planned to introduce another private member's bill during the upcoming term of federal parliament, after an initial bill in 2018 failed to pass. "When the parliamentary committee looked at this in 2018, Labor was supportive of lowering the voting age. "Where things fell down was whether or not 16- and 17-year-olds should be forced to vote, whether it should be compulsory, or whether it should be voluntary at that age," Ms Ryan said. "I'll be pushing it because young people in my electorate tell me that it matters to them." The independent believes that, if the voting age were lowered, an inclusion in the bill that would rescind any potential electoral fine issued against young people who refuse to vote may help gain parliamentary approval. "If we think 16- and 17-year-olds are fit to vote, that they have the cognitive and emotional maturity to do so … then they should vote," she said. "The fallback option is that you don't enforce any fines on young people who don't turn up the first time round. "That would be a reasonable meeting point where we don't put too much pressure on young people, but we give them this universal enfranchisement and treat them as adults." Young Australians and some politicians are hoping this plan will have a snowball effect in Australia. Amelia Condon-Cernovs was 15 when she started advocating to lower the voting age with the Foundation for Young Australians. Now 18, the Canberran campaigner said young people wanted a voice and a chance to be involved in democracy, with the cost of living, education and climate change fuelling the change. She said that, much like driving a car, young voters should learn the political system bit by bit. "You don't go from not knowing how to drive to having your full licence," she said. The voting age has not always been 18 — roughly 50 years ago, it was 21. In 1973, the federal government moved to lower the age of eligibility amid the Vietnam War. Political scientist at the Australian National University Jill Sheppard said that change followed a social understanding that if young people could die for their country, they should be able to vote for it. And at the time, like today, not everyone was happy. Greens senator Jordon Steele-John introduced a bill to lower the voting age in 2018 and recently said Australians needed to think about who they wanted to influence policy. "I know who I would trust, out of those two groups. "We've got around half a million Australians who currently are prevented from having their say about policy decisions that will affect them for the longest." For the voting age to change, the federal government would need to pass legislation to amend the Commonwealth Electoral Act of 1918. If Senator Steele-John's bill had passed, he said it would have been compulsory for those 16 or 17 years old to vote. However, it would have introduced a clause in the Electoral Act to would allow electoral officers to consider waiving a fine if someone 16 or 17 years old did not vote. Dr Sheppard researches voting behaviour in federal elections and says parties fear lowering the vote will open "Pandora's box". "Labor probably wouldn't be any worse off if they allowed 16- and 17-year-olds to vote, but that fear of opening Pandora's box is always a worry for parties of government," she said. "What may happen in this parliament, though, because the Greens have the balance of power in the Senate, is that they put that on the table as a bargaining chip. Austria, Germany and Brazil have already changed the voting age to 16 and Scotland allows voting at 16 in local elections, although the UK general election is run under UK law. Dr Sheppard said while compulsory voting was one key difference between the Australian and British electoral systems, she believed the evidence found in other countries would also flow on to Australia. "It is time for Australia to follow suit. If the UK can do it, so can we," Senator Steele-John said.
