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'{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2012}} A '''voting age''' is a [[minimum age]] established by law that a person must attain to be eligible to [[Suffrage|vote in a public election]]. Typically the age is set at 18 years, however ages as low as 16 and as high as 25 also exist. {{TOClimit|limit=4}} ==Overview== The vast majority of countries in the world have established a voting age. Most governments consider that those of any 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. In May 2009, Danish Member of Parliament Mogens Jensen presented an initiative to the [[Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe|Parliamentary Assembly]] of the [[Council of Europe]] in [[Strasbourg]] to lower the voting age in Europe to 16.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://assembly.coe.int/Documents/WorkingDocs/Doc09/EDOC11895.pdf |title=edoc11895 |format=PDF |date= |accessdate=6 January 2011}}</ref> There has also been discussion of giving votes to children from birth, initially with the votes being cast by parents, who are presumed to better understand a child's interests ([[Demeny voting]]). When the [[suffrage|right to vote]] was first accorded in [[democracy|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== Prior to the second World War almost all countries had voting ages of 21 or higher. Czechoslovakia was early to act, reducing its age to 18 in 1946, and by 1968 a total of 17 states had made the reduction.<ref name="Maryland">[http://aomol.net/000001/000138/html/am138--51.html ''"Lowering the Minimum Voting Age to 18 Years - Pro and Con Arguments"''], Constitutional Revision Study Documents of the [[Maryland]] Constitutional Convention Commission, 1968. Retrieved on 5 February 2007.</ref> A large number of countries, particularly in Western Europe, reduced their voting ages to 18 during the 1970s, starting with the United Kingdom in 1970 with countries such as the US ([[Twenty-sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution|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 [[Morocco]] during this time. Since 2007, debate has been taking place in Japan,<ref>{{cite news | first = Hiroko | last = Nakata | title = Panel mulls lowering voting age to 18 | url = http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20070518a4.html | publisher = [[The Japan Times]] | date = 18 May 2007 | accessdate =6 July 2007 }} </ref> and a dispute is continuing in the [[Maldives]].<ref>{{cite news | first = A.S.I. | last = Moosa | title = The murderous dictator and the 'Bullet-Ballot' propaganda | url = http://www.dhivehiobserver.com/editorial/Bullet_in_Maldives_010420071182847821.htm | publisher = Dhivehi Observer | date = 1 April 2007 | accessdate =6 July 2007 }} </ref> ===Further reductions=== [[File:NYRA Berkeley voting age protest.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Protest in favour of lowering the voting age by members of [[National Youth Rights Association|NYRA]] [[Berkeley, California]], 2004.]]Around the turn of the 20th to 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, as teens of that age and younger are as affected by the laws as 18 year olds. 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.<ref name="16 locals"/> In the 2000s (decade) 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]],<ref>[http://youthrights.org/votestatus.php Worldwide Efforts to Lower the Voting Age], National Youth Rights Association</ref> but ultimately none were successful. Proposals were made in 2005 for a national reduction in Canada<ref>[[Parliament of Canada]], Bill C-261 (2005); [http://vote16.ca/en/index.htm Vote16, Canada]</ref> and a state reduction in [[New South Wales]], Australia,<ref>[[Parliament of New South Wales]], Parliamentary Electorates and Elections Amendment (Voting Age) Bill (2005); [[Hansard]], 14 September 2005, [http://parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/PARLMENT/hansArt.nsf/V3Key/LC20050914041 p. 17686].</ref> but again there was no success. ====Austria==== In 2007 Austria became the first member of the [[European Union]] to adopt a voting age of 16 for most purposes.<ref name="Austria 4"/> 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 [[The Greens – The Green Alternative|Green Party]], but was not adopted.<ref name="NR pass"/> The voting age for municipal elections in some [[States of Austria|states]] was lowered to 16 in the early 2000s (decade).<ref name="16 locals">[http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/files/dms/AEM_10002-8073__E__N__S__W__.pdf ''How old is old enough?'' - the minimum age of voting and candidacy in UK elections: consultation paper], July 2003, UK [[Electoral Commission (United Kingdom)|Electoral Commission]], para. 3.6.</ref> Three states had made the reduction by 2003 ([[Burgenland]], [[Carinthia (state)|Carinthia]] and [[Styria]]),<ref name="16 locals"/> and in May 2003 [[Vienna]] became the fourth.<ref>[http://www.votesat16.org.uk/news/000030.html ''Austria joins the votes at 16 club''], [[Votes at 16]]. Retrieved on 6 June 2007.</ref> [[Salzburg (state)|Salzburg]] followed suit,<ref name="ANYC">[http://www.jugendvertretung.at/content/site/home/english/article/928.html ''Lowering the Electoral Age''], Austrian National Youth Council. Retrieved on 6 June 2007.</ref><ref name="DW">[http://www.demokratiezentrum.org/en/cms/topics/democracy_debates/elections/index.html ''Elections''], Demokratiezentrum Wien. Retrieved on 6 June 2007.</ref> and so by the start of 2005 the total had reached at least five states out of nine.<ref name="UNHCHR">[http://www.unhchr.ch/huricane/huricane.nsf/view01/9E8D42171C86FEE9C1256F8900731350?opendocument ''Committee on Rights of Child Considers Second Periodic Report of Austria''], [[Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights|UNHCHR]], 14 January 2005.</ref> 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.<ref name="DW"/> Following the [[Austrian legislative election, 2006|legislative election in 2006]], the winning [[Social Democratic Party of Austria|SPÖ]]-[[Austrian People's Party|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]].<ref name="Austria 1">{{cite news | last = Oleksyn | first = Veronika | title = Austrians split on voting at age 16 plan | publisher = AP/washingtonpost.com | date = 12 January 2007 | url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/12/AR2007011202410.html | accessdate =2 February 2007 }}</ref> The policy was set in motion by a Government announcement on 14 March,<ref name="Austria 2"> {{cite news | title = Austria lowers voting age | publisher = IOL, [[South Africa]] | date = 14 March 2007 | url = http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=3&art_id=nw20070314154425183C442915 | accessdate =30 March 2007}}</ref> and a bill proposing an amendment to the [[Constitution of Austria|Constitution]] was presented to the [[Parliament of Austria|legislature]] on 2 May.<ref name="Austria 3"> {{cite news | title = Austria lowers voting age to 16 | publisher = News 24, [[South Africa]] | date = 3 May 2007 | url = http://www.news24.com/News24/World/News/0,,2-10-1462_2107576,00.html | accessdate =6 May 2007}}</ref><ref>[http://www.parlinkom.gv.at/portal/page?_pageid=908,4792751&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL 94 d.B. (XXIII. GP) Bundesverfassungsgesetz, mit dem das Bundes-Verfassungsgesetz geändert wird], Republik Österreich Parlament (German).</ref> On 5 June the [[National Council of Austria|National Council]] approved the proposal following a recommendation to do so from its Constitution Committee.<ref name="Austria 4"> {{cite news | title = Austria lowers voting age to 16 | publisher = EUX.tv&nbsp;— the Europe Channel, the Netherlands | date = 5 June 2007 | url = http://www.eux.tv/article.aspx?articleId=9251 | accessdate =6 June 2007}}</ref><ref name="NR pass">[http://www.parlinkom.gv.at/portal/page?_pageid=908,5450640&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL Wählen mit 16, Briefwahl, fünfjährige Gesetzgebungsperiode kommen], Republik Österreich Parlament (German). Retrieved on 6 June 2007.</ref><ref>[http://www.parlinkom.gv.at/portal/page?_pageid=908,5234640&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL Verfassungsausschuss gibt grünes Licht für Wahlrechtsreform], Republik Österreich Parlament (German). Retrieved on 25 May 2007.</ref> 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 voting|postal vote]], and the extension of the legislative period for the National Council from four to five years.<ref name="NR pass"/> A further uncontroversial inclusion was a reduction in the [[age of candidacy|candidacy age]] from 19 to 18. The [[Federal Council of Austria|Federal Council]] approved the Bill on 21 June, with no party voting against it.<ref>[http://www.parlinkom.gv.at/portal/page?_pageid=908,5818640&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL Wahlrechtsreform 2007 passiert den Bundesrat], Republik Österreich Parlament (German). Retrieved on 30 June 2007.</ref> The voting age was reduced when the Bill's provisions came into force on 1 July 2007.<ref name="final Austria Bill">[http://66.249.91.104/translate_c?hl=en&u=http://www.parlinkom.gv.at/pls/portal/docs/page/PG/DE/XXIII/I/I_00129/FNAMEORIG_079516.HTML 31/BNR (XXIII. GP) Bundes-Verfassungsgesetz], ss. 1, 5 and 25, Republik Österreich Parlament (German). Retrieved on 1 July 2007.</ref> 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.<ref name="Austria 4"/> ====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 [[British House of Commons|House of Commons]] considered in Committee an amendment proposed by [[Simon Hughes]] to the ''Representation of the People Bill''.<ref>[http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199900/cmhansrd/vo991215/debtext/91215-steven smells14.htm#91215-14_time0 HC Deb, 15 December 1999, Vol. 341, cc. 305-338.] Retrieved on 3 November 2007.</ref> 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.<ref name="Ibidat">Ibid, at c. 336.</ref> The Government opposed the amendment, and it was defeated by 434 votes to 36.<ref name="Ibidat" /> The [[Votes at 16|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.<ref>{{cite news | title = 'A real chance to improve British Politics' - Votes at 16 Campaign Launches | publisher = [[Votes at 16]] | date = 29 January 2003 | url = http://www.votesat16.org.uk/news/000005/a_real_chance_to_improve_british_politics__votes_at_16_campaign_launches.html | accessdate =3 November 2007}}</ref> At this time a [[Private Member's Bill]] was also proposed in the [[House of Lords]] by [[Ralph Palmer, 12th Baron Lucas|Lord Lucas]], and received a Second Reading on 9 January.<ref>The [http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200203/ldbills/010/2003010.htm Voting Age (Reduction to 16) Bill (HL)].</ref> In 2004 the [[Electoral Commission (United Kingdom)|Electoral Commission]] conducted a major consultation on the subject of the voting and [[Age of candidacy|candidacy]] ages, and received a significant response. In its conclusions it recommended that the voting age remain at 18.<ref>[http://www.bibliotheque.assnat.qc.ca/01/mono/2005/10/826116.pdf ''Age of Electoral Majority''], Electoral Commission, 19 April 2004, para. 8.16</ref> On 29 November 2005 the House of Commons voted 136-128 (on a [[free vote]]) against a [[Private Member's Bill]] for a reduction in the voting age to 16 proposed by [[Liberal Democrats|Liberal Democrat]] MP [[Stephen Williams (politician)|Stephen Williams]]. [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|Parliament]] chose not to include a provision reducing the voting age in the [[Electoral Administration Act 2006|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 [[age of candidacy|candidacy age]] for the House of Commons, to 16.<ref>{{cite news | title = Political system faces 'meltdown' | publisher = BBC News | date = 27 February 2006 | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4753876.stm | accessdate =3 November 2007}}</ref> 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]].<ref>{{cite news | title = And so does Gordon Brown | publisher = [[Votes at 16]] | date = 27 February 2006 | url = http://www.votesat16.org.uk/news/000134/and_so_does_gordon_brown.html | accessdate =3 November 2007}}</ref> The [[Ministry of Justice (United Kingdom)|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".<ref>[http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/cm71/7170/7170.pdf ''The Governance of Britain''], [[Ministry of Justice (United Kingdom)|UK Ministry of Justice]], 3 July 2007, para. 190. Retrieved on 5 July 2007.</ref> The Commission would, amongst other things, be tasked with examining the case for lowering the voting age. On launching the Paper the [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]], [[Gordon Brown]], said in the [[British House of Commons|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."<ref>[http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmhansrd/cm070703/debtext/70703-0004.htm HC Deb, 3 July 2007, Vol. 462, c. 819.] Retrieved on 5 July 2007.</ref> 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]].<ref>{{cite news | title = 'Vote at 16' move backed by SNP | publisher = BBC News | date = 27 October 2007 | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1steven smells/hi/scotland/7065046.stm | accessdate =3 November 2007}}</ref> During the historic Youth Parliament debates of 30 October 2009 in the House of Commons, Votes at 16 was debated and was voted for overwhelmingly as a campaign priority and since that debate the issue has been raised in Prime Minister's Questions and has also gained the wide spread support of the major political parties. In September 2011 it was revealed that the voting age is likely to be reduced from 18 to 16 for the [[Scottish independence referendum]].<ref name="Macdonnell">{{cite news|url=http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/uk/scotland/article3167034.ece|title=16-year-olds likely to get the vote on Union split|last=Macdonnell|first=Hamish|date=17 September 2011|work=The Times Scotland|publisher=Times Newspapers Limited|accessdate=18 September 2011|location=London}}</ref> ====Crown dependencies==== Moves to lower the voting age to 16 were successful in each of the three British [[Crown dependency|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 [[House of Keys|general elections]], with the House of Keys approving the move by 19 votes to 4.<ref>{{cite news | title = Teenagers vote in Manx election | publisher = BBC News | date = 13 July 2006 | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/isle_of_man/5175426.stm | accessdate =9 May 2007 }}</ref> [[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,<ref>[http://www.statesassembly.gov.je/view_vote.asp?id_number=577 Vote P63/2007], [[States of Jersey]], 4 July 2007. Retrieved on 6 July 2007.</ref> and the legislative amendments were adopted on 26 September.<ref>[http://www.statesassembly.gov.je/documents/minutes/8199-16502-4102007.htm States of Jersey Minutes], 26 September 2007. Retrieved on 24 October 2007.</ref> The law was sanctioned by [[Order in Council]] on 12 December,<ref name="PC sanction">[http://www.privycouncil.gov.uk/files/word/List%20December%202007.doc ORDERS APPROVED AT THE PRIVY COUNCIL HELD BY THE QUEEN AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE ON 12 December 2007], [[Privy Council of the United Kingdom|Privy Council]] Office, 20 December 2007. Retrieved on 15 January 2008.</ref><ref name="Jersey law">[http://www.jerseylegalinfo.je/Law/display.aspx?url=lawsinforce%5chtm%5cLawFiles%5c2008%2fL-01-2008.htm Public Elections (Amendment No. 2) (Jersey) Law 2008], Jersey Legal Information Board. Retrieved on 15 January 2008.</ref> and was brought into force on 1 April, in time for the [[Jersey general election, 2008|general elections in late 2008]].<ref>[http://www.statesassembly.gov.je/documents/propositions/8355-38690-1552007.htm ''Public Elections: reduction in voting age to 16''], [[States of Jersey]], 15 May 2007. Retrieved on 6 July 2007.</ref><ref>[http://www.jerseylaw.je/Law/display.aspx?url=lawsinforce%5chtm%5cROFiles%5cR%26OYear2008%2fR%26O-041-2008.htm Public Elections (Amendment No. 2) (Jersey) Law 2007 (Appointed Day) Act 2008], Jersey Legal Information Board. Retrieved on 13 April 2008.</ref> On 31 October 2007 a proposal<ref>{{cite news | title = 'Give our young people a voice' | publisher = The Guernsey Press and Star | date = 18 September 2007 | url = http://www.thisisguernsey.com/code/showarchive.pl?ArticleID=002703&year=2007&category=news | accessdate =23 September 2007 }}</ref><ref name="States of Guernsey">[http://www.gov.gg/ccm/policy-and-hr/billets--resolutions/2007/blllet-dtat---xxii-2007-october.en Billet d'État XXII 2007 (October) & Resolutions], [[States of Guernsey]]. Retrieved on 20 December 2007.</ref> for a reduction made by the House Committee of the [[States of Guernsey|States]] of [[Guernsey]], and approved by the States' Policy Committee, was adopted by the assembly by 30 votes to 15.<ref name="States of Guernsey"/><ref>{{cite news | title = Too young at 16 to vote&nbsp;– deputy | publisher = The Guernsey Press and Star | date = 2 November 2007 | url = http://www.thisisguernsey.com/code/shownewsarticle.pl?ArticleID=002891 | accessdate =3 November 2007 }}</ref> An Order in Council sanctioning the law was made on 12 December,<ref name="PC sanction"/> 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]].<ref name="Guernsey Court">{{cite news | title = 16 Year Olds Can Vote in General Election | publisher = States of Guernsey&nbsp;— The Official Guernsey Government Website | date = 19 December 2007 | url = http://www.gov.gg/ccm/policy-and-hr/press-release/2007/december/16-Year-Olds-can-Vote-in-General-Election.en | accessdate =15 January 2008 }}</ref> [[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. ====United States==== [[File:States17primary.png|thumb|left|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 States]], nineteen states permit 17-year-olds to vote in [[primary elections]] and caucuses if they will be 18 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 18 for federal elections as well. Because it only applies to state elections, 17-year-olds would not be able to vote in primaries and general elections for [[United States House of Representatives|representatives]], [[United States Senate|senators]], and [[President of the United States]] even if the amendment passes the legislature and referendum.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.deviantart.com/article/43380/ |title=News: Bill to lower voting age to 17 goes to House floor |publisher=News.deviantart.com |date= |accessdate=6 January 2011}}</ref> To pass, 60 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. Currently, the Maine Green Independent Party, the state branch of the [[Green Party of the United States]], calls for the lowering of the voting age to 17.<ref>[http://www.mainegreens.org/index.php?sectionID=266&pageID=590&mode= Green Platform]</ref> [[Youth suffrage]] appears to be gaining ground in [[Massachusetts]]; three of the four Democratic United States Senate candidates in 2010 supported lowering the voting age.<ref>{{cite web|hihihihihiihiohihiihihiiiiiiiiiiegwuthor=Name * |url=http://lowerthevote.wordpress.com/2009/11/30/three-massachusetts-senator-candidates-support-lower-voting-age |title=Three Massachusetts Senator Candidates Support Lower Voting Age " Lower The Voting Age |publisher=Lowerthevote.wordpress.com |date=30 November 2009 |accessdate=6 January 2011}}</ref> ====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.<ref name="Iran increase">{{cite news | title = Iran raises voting age to 18 | publisher = Iran Focus | date = 14 January 2007 | url = http://www.iranfocus.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=9841 | accessdate =4 February 2007 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title = Iran Parliament raises voting age to 18 | publisher = IranMania | date = 3 January 2007 | url = http://www.iranmania.com/News/ArticleView/Default.asp?ArchiveNews=Yes&NewsCode=48537&NewsKind=CurrentAffairs | accessdate =6 May 2007 }}</ref> In May 2007 the Iranian Cabinet proposed a bill to reverse the increase.<ref>{{cite news | title = Bill may lower voting age to 15 | publisher = Press TV | date = 2 May 2007 | url = http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=8391&sectionid=351020101 | accessdate =6 May 2007 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title = President planning to lower voting age | publisher = Press TV | date = 23 September 2007 | url = http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=24264&sectionid=351020101 | accessdate =23 September 2007 }}</ref> On 6 May 2007 the [[Cantons of Switzerland|canton]] of [[Canton of Glarus|Glarus]] in [[Switzerland]] voted to reduce the voting age from 18 to 16 for cantonal and local elections.<ref name="Glarus 1">{{cite news | title = Swiss canton drops voting age to 16 | publisher = AP/International Herald Tribune Europe | date = 6 May 2007 | url = http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/05/06/europe/EU-GEN-Switzerland-Young-Voters.php | accessdate =9 May 2007 }}</ref><ref name="Glarus 2">{{cite news | title = Glarus lowers voting age to 16 | publisher = 24 Heures | date = 7 May 2007 | url = http://www.24heures.ch/pages/home/24_heures/english_corner/news/news_detail/(contenu)/73342 | accessdate =9 May 2007 }}</ref> The [[Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand|New Zealand Green Party]] [[New Zealand House of Representatives|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.<ref>[http://www.greens.org.nz/searchdocs/PR10947.html Bradford launches Bill to lower voting age to 16], [[Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand]], 21 June 2007. Retrieved on 2 July 2007.</ref> When this happened on 25 July Bradford abandoned the idea, citing an adverse public reaction.<ref>{{cite news | title = Green MP abandons voting age bill | publisher = [[Radio New Zealand]] News | date = 26 July 2007 | url = http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/latest/200707261310/green_mp_abandons_voting_age_bill | accessdate =26 July 2007}}</ref> The Bill would have sought to reduce the voting age to 16 in [[New Zealand]] and make [[civics|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 of Venezuela|National Assembly]], announced that the Mixed Committee for Constitutional Reform had found the idea to be acceptable.<ref>{{cite news | first = Jeremy | last = Morgan | title = Further details of Chavez' package of constitutional reforms are emerging | publisher = [[Caracas]] Daily Journal | date = 9 September 2007 | url = http://www.vheadline.com/readnews.asp?id=75781 | accessdate =29 July 2007}}</ref> Following approval in the legislature<ref>{{cite news | first = Matthew | last = Walter | title = Venezuela May Lower Voting Age, Add Gay Rights in Constitution | publisher = Bloomberg.com | date = 11 October 2007 | url = http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601086&sid=aqg5jOxmM.Vg&refer=latin_america | accessdate =13 October 2007}}</ref> the amendment formed part of the package of constitutional proposals, and was defeated in the [[Venezuelan constitutional referendum, 2007|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 [[Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly|territorial legislature]] on 26 September 2007 and defeated.<ref>{{cite news | title = ACT to consider lowering voting age | publisher = [[ABC News (Australia)]] | date = 26 September 2007 | url = http://abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/09/26/2043628.htm | accessdate =29 July 2007}}</ref> ==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]], [[South Sudan]] and [[Sudan]]. The minimum age is 16 in Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Cuba, Ecuador, Nicaragua and the [[Isle of Man]], Jersey and Guernsey (three self-governing British Crown Dependencies). People aged 16–18 can vote in [[Bosnia and Herzegovina|Bosnia]], [[Serbia]] and [[Montenegro]] if employed. The highest minimum voting age is 21 in several nations. 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 [[Cardinal (Catholicism)|Cardinals]] under the age of 80. [[File:Voting-age.svg|thumb|right|Voting age: {{legend|red|16}} {{legend|yellow|17}} {{legend|green|18}} {{legend|cyan|19}} {{legend|blue|20}} {{legend|purple|21}}]] ===Alphabetical list of countries=== The following is an alphabetical list of voting ages in the various countries of the world. {{alphanumericTOC|numbers=|top=|seealso=|references=|externallinks=|}} ====A==== *[[Afghanistan]]: 18 *[[Albania]]: 18 *[[Algeria]]: 18 *[[American Samoa]]: 18 *[[Andorra]]: 18 *[[Angola]]: 18 *[[Anguilla]]: 18 *[[Antigua and Barbuda]]: 18 *[[Argentina]]: 18 to 70 compulsory, 16 to 18 optional. *[[Armenia]]: 18 *[[Aruba]]: 18 *[[Australia]]: 18 (compulsory for all over 18, can enroll at 17) *[[Austria]]: 16<ref name="final Austria Bill"/> (Except for European Parliament elections, which are 18) *[[Azerbaijan]]: 18 ====B==== *[[Bahamas]]: 18 *[[Bahrain]]: 20 (Bahraini Cabinet in May 2011 endorsed a draft law lowering eligibility to 18 years)<ref>http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/NewsDetails.aspx?storyid=305593</ref> *[[Bangladesh]]: 18 *[[Barbados]]: 18 *[[Belarus]]: 18 *[[Belgium]]: 18 *[[Belize]]: 18 *[[Benin]]: 18 *[[Bermuda]]: 18 *[[Bhutan]]: 18 *[[Bolivia]]: 18, universal and compulsory *[[Bosnia and Herzegovina]]: 18, 16 if employed *[[Botswana]]: 18 *[[Brazil]]: 18 to 70 compulsory, 16 to under 18 AND over 70 optional. Voting is also optional to all illiterate citizens older than 16. *[[British Virgin Islands]]: 18 *[[Brunei]]: 18 (village elections only) *[[Bulgaria]]: 18 *[[Burkina Faso]]: 18 *[[Burundi]]: 18 ====C==== *[[Cambodia]]: 18 *[[Cameroon]]: 21 *[[Canada]]: 18 *[[Cape Verde]]: 18 *[[Cayman Islands]]: 18 *[[Central African Republic]]: 18 *[[Chad]]: 18 *[[Chile]]: 18 *[[People's Republic of China|China, People's Republic of]]: 18 *[[Cocos (Keeling) Islands]]: 18 *[[Colombia]]: 18 *[[Comoros]]: 18 *[[Congo, Democratic Republic of the]]: 18 *[[Congo, Republic of the]]: 18 *[[Cook Islands]]: 18 *[[Costa Rica]]: 18 *[[Cote d'Ivoire]]: 18 *[[Croatia]]: 18 *[[Cuba]]: 16 *[[Curaçao]]: 18 *[[Cyprus]]: 18 *[[Czech Republic]]: 18 ====D==== *[[Denmark]]: 18 *[[Djibouti]]: 18 *[[Dominica]]: 18 *[[Dominican Republic]]: 18, universal and compulsory; married persons regardless of age (members of the armed forces and national police cannot vote) ====E==== *[[East Timor]]: 17 *[[Ecuador]]: 16; universal, compulsory for literate persons ages 18–65, optional for other eligible voters *[[Egypt]]: 18 *[[El Salvador]]: 18 *[[Equatorial Guinea]]: 18 *[[Eritrea]]: 18 *[[Estonia]]: 18; universal for all Estonian citizens *[[Ethiopia]]: 18 *[[European Union]]: 18 ====F==== *[[Falkland Islands]]: 18 *[[Faroe Islands]]: 18 *[[Fiji]]: 21 *[[Finland]]: 18 *[[France]]: 18 *[[French Guiana]]: 18 *[[French Polynesia]]: 18 ====G==== *[[Gabon]]: 18 *[[Gambia]]: 18 *[[Georgia (country)|Georgia]]: 18 *[[Germany]]: 18 (16 at state level in [[Bremen (state)|Bremen]]<ref>[http://de.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idDEBEE59S0B720091029 Bremen führt als erstes Land Wahlrecht ab 16 ein], Reuters, 2009-10-29 {{de icon}}</ref> and for municipal elections in the states of [[Bremen (state)|Bremen]], [[Lower Saxony]], [[Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania]], [[North Rhine-Westphalia]], [[Saxony-Anhalt]] and [[Schleswig-Holstein]] [6/16])<ref name="16 locals"/> *[[Ghana]]: 18 *[[Gibraltar]]: 18; universal, plus other British citizens who have been residents six months or more *[[Greece]]: 18 *[[Greenland]]: 18 *[[Grenada]]: 18 *[[Guadeloupe]]: 18 *[[Guam]]: 18; universal; US citizens, but do not vote in US presidential elections *[[Guatemala]]: 18; universal (active duty members of the armed forces may not vote and are restricted to their barracks on election day) *[[Guernsey]]: 16<ref name="Guernsey law">[http://www.gov.gg/ccm/navigation/government/states-of-guernsey/reform--guernsey--law--1948/ 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).</ref> *[[Guinea]]: 18 *[[Guinea-Bissau]]: 18 *[[Guyana]]: 18 ====H==== *[[Haiti]]: 18 *[[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 220,000 members of functional constituencies and an 1,200-member election committee drawn from broad regional groupings, municipal organizations, and central government bodies *[[Hungary]]: 18 ====I==== *[[Iceland]]: 18 *[[India]]: 18 *[[Indonesia]]: 17; universal and married persons regardless of age *[[Iran]]: 18 (changed from 15 in 2007)<ref name="Iran increase"/> *[[Iraq]]: 18 *[[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]]: 18 *[[Isle of Man]]: 16 *[[Israel]]: 18 (17 for municipal elections) *[[Italy]]: 18 (25 for Senate elections) ====J==== *[[Jamaica]]: 18 *[[Japan]]: 20 *[[Jersey]]: 16 *[[Jordan]]: 18 ====K==== *[[Kazakhstan]]: 18 *[[Kenya]]: 18 *[[Kiribati]]: 18 *[[Korea, North]]: 17; members of the military have the right to vote, regardless of age<ref>[http://unibook.unikorea.go.kr/?sub_num=53&state=view&idx=369 NK constitute law]</ref> *[[Korea, South]]: 19 *[[Kosovo]]: 18 *[[Kuwait]]: 21; females and males who are not in the military or police forces; all voters must have been citizens for 20 years; current proposal for reduction to 18<ref>{{cite news | title = NA panel lowers voting age to 18 | publisher = kuwaittimes.net | date = 18 January 2012 | url = http://new.kuwaittimes.net/2012/01/18/proposal-to-bring-down-voting-age-to-18-years/ | accessdate =4 February 2012 }}</ref> *[[Kyrgyzstan]]: 18 ====L==== *[[Laos]]: 18 *[[Latvia]]: 18; universal for Latvian citizens *[[Lebanon]]: 21, tried to amend to 18 on 22 February 2010 but failed to pass.<ref>[http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=37411 Lebanon shoots down bill to lower voting age]</ref> *[[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" (973 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]]: 18 *[[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 *[[Montenegro]]: 18 *[[Montserrat]]: 18 *[[Morocco]]: 18 *[[Mozambique]]: 18 *[[Myanmar]] (Burma): 18 ====N==== *[[Namibia]]: 18 *[[Nauru]]: 20 *[[Nepal]]: 18 *[[Netherlands]]: 18 *[[New Caledonia]]: 18 *[[New Zealand]]: 18 *[[Nicaragua]]: 16 *[[Niger]]: 18 *[[Nigeria]]: 18 *[[Niue]]: 18 *[[Norfolk Island]]: 18 *[[Northern Mariana Islands]]: 18; 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; universal; joint electorates and reserved parliamentary seats for women and non-Muslims *[[Palau]]: 18 *[[Panama]]: 18 *[[Papua New Guinea]]: 18 *[[Paraguay]]: 18; universal and compulsory until the age of 75 *[[Peru]]: 18; universal and compulsory until the age of 70; (members of the military and national police could not vote until a Constitutional Reform in 2005 <ref>http://www.terra.com.pe/noticias/noticias/act507516/.html</ref>) *[[Philippines]]: 18 *[[Pitcairn Islands]]: 18; universal with three years' residency *[[Poland]]: 18 *[[Portugal]]: 18 *[[Puerto Rico]]: 18; 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 Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha]]: 18 *[[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 (for partial municipal council elections and women to be allowed by [[Saudi Arabian municipal elections, 2015|2015]]) *[[Senegal]]: 18 *[[Serbia]]: 18<ref>{{cite news | title = Constitution of the Republic of Serbia | publisher = http://www.srbija.gov.rs | date = | url = http://www.srbija.gov.rs/cinjenice_o_srbiji/ustav_odredbe.php?id=218 | accessdate =5 March 2007 }}</ref> *[[Seychelles]]: 18<ref>http://www.ipu.org/parline-e/reports/2279.htm</ref> *[[Sierra Leone]]: 18 *[[Singapore]]: 21 *[[Sint Maarten]]: 18 *[[Slovakia]]: 18 *[[Slovenia]]: 18 *[[Solomon Islands]]: 21 *[[Somalia]]: 18 *[[South Africa]]: 18 *[[South Sudan]]: 17 *[[Spain]]: 18 *[[Sri Lanka]]: 18 *[[Sudan]]: 17 *[[Suriname]]: 18 *[[Swaziland]]: 18 *[[Sweden]]: 18 *[[Switzerland]]: 18 (16 for [[Cantons of Switzerland|cantonal]] and municipal elections in the canton of [[Canton of Glarus|Glarus]]<ref name="Glarus 1"/><ref name="Glarus 2"/> [1/26]) *[[Syria]]: 18 ====T==== *[[Taiwan]] ([[Republic of China]]): 20 (there is a current proposal to lower it to 18)<ref>http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2011/05/22/2003503864</ref> *[[Tajikistan]]: 18 *[[Tanzania]]: 18 *[[Thailand]]: 18 (compulsory) *[[Togo]]: 18 *[[Tokelau]]: 21 *[[Tonga]]: 21 *[[Trinidad and Tobago]]: 18 *[[Tunisia]]: 18 (with some exceptions)<ref>http://www.ipu.org/parline-e/reports/2392_B.htm</ref> *[[Turkey]]: 18 *[[Turkmenistan]]: 18 *[[Turks and Caicos Islands]]: 18 *[[Tuvalu]]: 18 ====U==== *[[Uganda]]: 18 *[[Ukraine]]: 18 *[[United Arab Emirates]]: none<ref name=ciauae>{{cite news | title = Suffrage | publisher = www.cia.gov | year = 2009 | url = https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2123.html | accessdate =26 November 2009 }}</ref> but at least 25 (the minimum age is decided by the ruler of each Emirate and may vary from one Emirate to another)<ref>http://www.ipu.org/parline-e/reports/2333_B.htm</ref> *[[United Kingdom]]: 18; The [[Scottish National Party|SNP]] proposes this to be reduced to 16 for the [[Scottish independence referendum]]<ref name="Macdonnell" /> *[[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 (the oldest age to be allowed to vote in a country in the world).However, it is going to pass to 18.<ref>http://www.ipu.org/parline/reports/2343_B.htm</ref><ref>https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2123.html</ref> ====V==== *[[Vanuatu]]: 18 *[[Venezuela]]: 18 *[[Vietnam]]: 18 *[[Virgin Islands of the United States]]: 18; universal; island residents are U.S. citizens but do not vote in U.S. presidential elections ====W==== *[[Wallis and Futuna]]: 18 *[[Western Sahara]]: none; (residents of Moroccan-controlled Western Sahara participate in Moroccan elections, Age 18) <ref name=ciauae/> ====Y==== *[[Yemen]]: 18 ====Z==== *[[Zambia]]: 18 *[[Zimbabwe]]: 18 ==Chronology of lowering the voting age to 18== The following is a [[chronology|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 [[Gradualism|decrementally]], and so the "staging points" are also given. Some information is also included on the relevant legal instruments involved. *[[Czechoslovakia]]: 1946 *[[South Africa]]: 1958 ([[White South African|white]] voters only; [[Electoral Law Amendment Act, 1958]])<ref>{{cite book |first=Muriel |last=Horrell |title=A Survey of Race Relations in South Africa, 1957–1958 |publisher=South African Institute of Race Relations |page=10 |url=http://www.nelsonmandela.org/omalley/cis/omalley/OMalleyWeb/dat/SAIRR%20Survey%201957-58.pdf |accessdate=28 June 2011}}</ref> *[[United Kingdom]]: 1 January 1970 ([[Representation of the People Act 1969]]) *[[Canada]]: 26 June 1970<ref>{{cite news | title =Young Canadians and the Voting Age: Should it be Lowered? | publisher =[[Canadian Policy Research Networks (CPRN)]] | year =2005 | url =http://www.cprn.org/en/enwiki/static/EN-diversity-voting.html | accessdate =5 February 2007 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title =Canadian History 1900–1999 | publisher =Canadian History Directory | date =1 January 2007 | url =http://www3.telus.net/public/dgarneau/canada-2.htm | accessdate =5 February 2007}}</ref> (federal elections, amendment to [[Canada Elections Act]]) :non-federal elections: [[Quebec]] in 1963,<ref name="Canada">[http://www.elections.ca/res/eim/article_search/article.asp?id=53&lang=e&frmPageSize= Elections Canada On-Line]</ref> [[Manitoba]] on 10 October 1969,<ref>[http://www.electionsmanitoba.ca/main/history/hist_o_view.htm Elections Manitoba]{{dead link|date=January 2011}}</ref> [[Ontario]] in 1971,<ref name="Canada"/> [[Nova Scotia]] in 1973 following reduction to 19 in 1970<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.canadianencyclopedia.ca/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1SEC875301 |title=The Canadian Encyclopedia, Nova Scotia |publisher=Canadianencyclopedia.ca |date= |accessdate=6 January 2011}}</ref> and [[British Columbia]] in 1992 following reduction to 19 in 1952<ref>[http://www.elections.bc.ca/index.php/resource-centre/electoral-history-of-bc/ Elections British Columbia]</ref> *[[Germany]]: 1970 <ref>http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http://www.geocities.com/capitolhill/lobby/8522/wahl16_e.html&date=2009-10-25+16:56:00</ref> *[[Netherlands]]: 1971 (previous reduction from 23 to 21 in 1965) *[[United States]]: 1 July 1971, per the [[Twenty-sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution|Twenty-sixth Amendment]]. Previously reduced on 1 January 1971 by the [[Voting Rights Act#Periodic renewal|Voting Rights Act Amendments 1970, ss. 302, 305]]<ref>Title 3, 84 Stat. 318, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 1973bb.; text reproduced in [[Oregon v. Mitchell]], 400 U.S. 112, 223</ref> (Prior reductions: [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]] in August 1943,<ref>{{cite news|title= Suffrage Jr|publisher= [[Time (magazine)|Time]]|url= http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,933171,00.html|date= 16 August 1943|accessdate=5 February 2007}}</ref> [[Kentucky]] in 1955,<ref name="Maryland">[http://www.djs.state.md.us/megafile/msa/speccol/sc2900/sc2908/000001/000138/html/am138--51.html ''"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.</ref> [[Guam]] in 1954<ref name="Cheng">{{cite news|last = Cheng|first = J.|title = The 'Qualified Voter' and the Minimum Voting Age|publisher = Department of Political Science, University of Michigan|url = http://64.233.183.104/search?q=cache:Hw2RgCphypIJ:millercenter.virginia.edu/pubs/dissertation_chapters/2005/cheng.pdf+%22The+Qualified+Voter+and+the+Minimum+Voting+Age%22&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=uk|accessdate =5 February 2007}}</ref> and [[American Samoa]] in 1965.<ref name="Cheng"/>) *[[Finland]]: 1972 (from 20; previous reductions were 24 to 21 in 1944 and 21 to 20 in 1968/1969)<ref>{{cite news | title =HS Gallup: Little public support for reduction in voting age | publisher =Helsingin Sanomat International Edition&nbsp;— Metro | date =11 January 2007 | url =http://www.hs.fi/english/article/HS+Gallup+Little+public+support+for+reduction+in+voting+age/1135224233031 | accessdate =5 February 2007}})</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eduskunta.fi/fakta/historia/eng/tapahtuma_aika.htm |title=Sanasto |publisher=Eduskunta.fi |date=1 March 2000 |accessdate=6 January 2011}}</ref> *[[Sweden]]: 1972 (from 20) <ref>http://www.idea.int/publications/voter_turnout_weurope/upload/chapter%201.pdf</ref> *[[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)<ref>[http://www.conseil-constitutionnel.fr/langues/anglais/cst1.pdf La Constitution du 4 Octobre 1958], Art. 3 and [http://195.83.177.9/code/liste.phtml?lang=uk&c=22&r=348 Le Code Civil francais], Art. 488</ref> *[[New Zealand]]: November 1974 (from 20; previous reduction from 21 to 20 in 1969)<ref>[http://www.elections.org.nz/study/history/right-to-vote.html Elections New Zealand], "The Right to Vote". Retrieved on 5 February 2007.</ref><ref>[http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Asia-and-Oceania/New-Zealand-GOVERNMENT.html Encyclopedia of the Nations, New Zealand]. Retrieved on 6 February 2007.</ref> *[[Dominica]]: 1974<ref>[http://www.lennoxhonychurch.com/article.cfm?Id=394 ''Important Dates in Dominica's History''], Lennox Honychurch</ref> *[[Italy]]: 1975 (voting age to elect the [[Italian Senate|Senate]] remained at 25) *[[Trinidad and Tobago]]: 1976 *[[Denmark]]: 19 September 1978 (from 20; 53.8% in [[Danish electoral age referendum, 1978|referendum]]; previous reductions were [[Danish constitutional and electoral age referendum, 1953|25 to 23]] in 1953, [[Danish electoral age referendum, 1961|23 to 21]] in 1961 and [[Danish electoral age referendum, 1971|21 to 20]] in 1971)<ref>[http://www.folketinget.dk/BAGGRUND/00000047/00232629.htm folketinget.dk, "Representative democracy and referenda"]</ref> *[[Spain]]: 29 December 1978 ([[Spanish Constitution of 1978|1978 Constitution]])<ref>{{cite journal | last =Maravall | first =J.M. | title =Political Cleavages in Spain and the 1979 General Election | journal =Government and Opposition | volume =14 | issue =3 | pages =299–317 | month =July | year =1979 | url =http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1477-7053.1979.tb00247.x?journalCode=goop | accessdate =7 June 2007 | doi =10.1111/j.1477-7053.1979.tb00247.x}}</ref> *[[Peru]]: 1979 Constitution *[[Belgium]]: 1981<ref>[http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/World-Leaders-2003/Belgium-POLITICAL-BACKGROUND.html Encyclopedia of the Nations, Belgium]. Retrieved on 6 February 2007.</ref> *[[India]]: 28 March 1989 (61st Constitution Amendment Act, 1988 read with Act 21 of 1989)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ceodelhi.nic.in/FAQ/FAQs3.asp |title=Official Website of the Chief Electoral Officer, Delhi, FAQs Q21 |publisher=Ceodelhi.nic.in |date=28 March 1989 |accessdate=6 January 2011}}</ref> *[[Switzerland]]: 1991 (from 20; referendum held on 3 March)<ref>[http://www.swissworld.org/dvd_rom/eng/direct_democracy_2004/content/politsystem/politsystem.html swissworld.org, "The political system in Switzerland"]{{dead link|date=January 2011}}</ref> *[[Austria]]: 1992 (from 19; previous reductions were 21 to 20 in 1949 and 20 to 19 in 1970)<ref>{{cite book | first =Reingard | last =Spannring | title =Orientations of Young Men and Women to Citizenship and European Identity: Workpackage 1&nbsp;– Socio-demographic Background: Austria | publisher =Institute for Advanced Studies, Vienna | url =http://www.oeij.at/doku/European_Identity.pdf | accessdate =9 May 2007|format=PDF}}</ref> *[[Estonia]]: 29 July 1992 (from 22, according to the 1938 Constitution; was 18 during the [[Occupation of the Baltic States|Soviet Occupation]] since 1940 and 16 for the [[Congress of Estonia]] in 1990)<ref>[http://et.wikisource.org/wiki/Eesti_Nõukogude_Sotsialistliku_Vabariigi_konstitutsioon_(1940) Eesti Nõukogude Sotsialistliku Vabariigi konstitutsioon (1940)] {{et icon}}</ref><ref>[http://www.hot.ee/etsiam/Eesti%20Kongress%2010.htm Valmistumine Eesti Kongressi valimisteks] {{et icon}}</ref> * [[Hong Kong]]: 1995 (from 21)<ref>http://www.legco.gov.hk/yr97-98/english/sec/library/956rp17.pdf</ref> *[[Liechtenstein]]: 2000 (from 20; LGBl. 2000 No. 55)<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20090807131456/http://geocities.com/dagtho/lieconst19211005h.html Constitution of the Principality of Liechtenstein], Art. 29(2)</ref> *[[Jordan]]: July 2001 (from 19; Provisional Election Law No. 34/2001)<ref>[http://www.ipu.org/news-e/4-9.htm The World of Parliaments, ''Quarterly Review'' No. 4], [[Inter-Parliamentary Union|IPU]], 2001. Retrieved on 22 July 2007.</ref> *[[Turkey]]: 17 October 2001 (from 20;<ref>[http://www.byegm.gov.tr/mevzuat/anayasa/anayasa-ing.htm The Constitution of the Republic of Turkey], Article 67</ref> previous reduction from 21 to 20 in May 1987)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Asia-and-Oceania/Turkey-GOVERNMENT.html |title=Encyclopedia of the Nations, Turkey |publisher=Nationsencyclopedia.com |date= |accessdate=6 January 2011}}</ref> *[[Pakistan]]: 21 August 2002 (Legal Framework Order, 2002),<ref>{{cite book | first =M. | last =Nadeem | coauthors =Laghari, J. | title =Study of Pakistan Election System as "Intelligent e-Election" | arxiv =cs/0405105 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/1913092.stm |title=SOUTH ASIA &#124; Vote on Musharraf rule set for May |publisher=BBC News |date=5 April 2002 |accessdate=6 January 2011}}</ref> was 18 under [[Constitution of Pakistan#The Constitution of 1973|1973 Constitution]], then increased to 21, then lowered back to 18.<ref>[http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Asia-and-Oceania/Pakistan-GOVERNMENT.html Encyclopedia of the Nations, Pakistan] Retrieved on 6 February 2007.</ref> *[[Morocco]]: 11 December 2002 (from 20)<ref>{{cite news | title =Morocco lowers voting age | publisher =BBC News | date =11 December 2002 | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/2565373.stm | accessdate =5 February 2007}}</ref> ==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)<ref>{{cite journal | last =Bowman | first =K. | coauthors =Lehoucq, F.;Mahoney, J. | title =Measuring Political Democracy: Case Expertise, Data Adequacy, and Central America | journal =Comparative Political Studies | volume =38 | issue =8 | pages =939–970 (Appendix C) | year =2005 | url =http://blmdemocracy.gatech.edu/BLM%20select%20bibliography.pdf | accessdate =4 February 2007 | doi =10.1177/0010414005277083|format=PDF}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = MacroHistory: Prehistory to yesterday: The Sandinista Revolution | url = http://www.fsmitha.com/h2/ch24nic.htm | accessdate =12 January 2008}}</ref> *[[Brazil]]: 5 October 1988 ([[Constitution of Brazil#Seventh (1988 – present)|Constitution of the Federative Republic of Brazil, 1988]])<ref>{{cite book | last = Federal Research Division, [[Library of Congress]] | title = Brazil&nbsp;— a country study | month = April | year = 1997 | page = 300 | isbn = 978-1-57980-299-8 | publisher = Federal Research Division, Library of Congress | location = Washington, D.C.}}</ref> *[[Estonia]]: 24 February 1990 (from 22 according to the 1938 Constitution, from 18 during the [[Occupation of the Baltic States|Soviet occupation]]); only for the [[Congress of Estonia]], was raised to 18 according to the [[Constitution of Estonia|1992 Constitution]] *[[Isle of Man]]: 11 July 2006; legislation brought into force in time for [[Manx general election, 2006|general election held on 23 November 2006]]<ref>[http://www.gov.im/lib/docs/infocentre/acts/repofpeople.pdf Representation of the People (Amendment) Act 2006], s. 4</ref> *[[Austria]]: 1 July 2007 (BGBl. No. 1/1930, as amended)<ref name="final Austria Bill"/> *[[Guernsey]]: 19 December 2007 (Reform (Guernsey) (Amendment) Law, 2007)<ref name="Guernsey Court"/><ref name="Guernsey law"/> *[[Jersey]]: 1 April 2008 (Public Elections (Amendment No. 2) (Jersey) Law 2008)<ref name="Jersey law"/> *[[Ecuador]]: 28 September 2008 (New constitution accepted by referendum) for general election on 26 March 2009. *[[Argentina]]: 1 November 2012. Voting for teenagers between 16 and 18 years of age became optional.<ref>[http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1522388-diputados-dio-luz-verde-el-voto-a-los-16-anos-y-ya-es-ley "Without opposition and in a controversial session, Kirchnerism legalized young vote in Deputies], November 1, 2012. [[La Nación]]</ref> ==Organizations in favour of lowering the voting age== {{Refimprove|date=November 2008}} The following are [[Political party|political parties]] and other [[Political campaign|campaigning]] organisations that have either endorsed a lower voting age or who favour its removal. ===Alphabetical list of countries=== ====Argentina==== *[[Front for Victory]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.frenteparalavictoria.org/|title= Front for Victory official site (spanish) }}</ref> ====Australia==== *[[Australian Democrats|The Australian Democrats]] *[[Australian Greens|The Greens]] ====Austria==== *[[Austrian Greens]] *[[Social Democratic Party of Austria]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spoe.at/ |title=× SPÖ - Sozialdemokratische Partei Österreichs × Startseite |publisher=Spoe.at |date=17 December 2010 |accessdate=6 January 2011}}</ref> *[[Liberales Forum]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.liberale.at/ |title=Aktuelle Themen |publisher=Liberale.at |date= |accessdate=6 January 2011}}</ref> *vote4future.at Austrian National Youth Council<ref>{{cite web|author=Bundesjugendvertretung |url=http://www.vote4future.at/ |title=. Nationalratswahl 2006 |publisher=vote4future.at . |date= |accessdate=6 January 2011}}</ref> ====Canada==== *[[New Democratic Party]] *[[Communist Party of Canada]] *voteto16.ca<ref>http://www.voteto16.ca/</ref> *[[Rock The Vote]] *The [[Parti Québécois]]<ref>{{cite press release | publisher = [[Parti Québécois]] | date = 7 December 2011 | format = | language = French | title = Le Parti Québécois présente une douzaine de propositions pour changer la politique | trans_title = | url = http://pq.org/actualite/communiques/le_parti_quebecois_presente_une_douzaine_de_propositions_pour_changer_la_polit | accessdate =8 December 2011 | archiveurl = | archivedate = | quote = L’abaissement de l’âge légal pour voter à 16 ans. (Lowering the legal voting age to 16 years) | ref = }}</ref> ====Denmark==== *[[Social Democrats (Denmark)|Social Democrats]] *[[Socialist People's Party (Denmark)|Socialist People's Party]] * The Danish Youth Council&nbsp;— Dansk Ungdoms Fællesråd, Denmark<ref>http://www.duf.dk</ref> ====Estonia==== *[[Young Social Democrats (Estonia)|Social Democratic Youth]] ====Germany==== *K.R.Ä.T.Z.Ä. (demanding abolition of any age-based voting restrictions)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.kraetzae.de/vote/ |title=K.R.Ä.T.Z.Ä. - Right to vote - Overview |publisher=En.kraetzae.de |date= |accessdate=6 January 2011}}</ref> *Foundation for the Rights of Future Generations (abolition)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.intergenerationaljustice.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=85&Itemid=116 |title=FRFG-Intergenerational Justice - Childrens' Rights |publisher=Intergenerationaljustice.org |date= |accessdate=6 January 2011}}</ref> ====Greece==== *[[Ecologist Greens]] <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ecogreens.gr/gr/modules.php?name=News&file=print&sid=989 |title=The youth must have a say (greek) (Ecologist Greens) |publisher=Ecogreens.gr |date= |accessdate=6 January 2011}}</ref> ====Ireland==== *[[Green Party (Ireland)|Green Party / Comhantas Glas]] *[[Labour Party (Ireland)|Labour Party / Páirtí an Lucht Oibre]] <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.labour.ie/press/listing/122804883786263.html |title=Labour Ireland - '&#39;Local election voting age should be lowered to 16'&#39; |publisher=Labour.ie |date=30 November 2008 |accessdate=6 January 2011}}</ref> *[[Sinn Féin]] *[[Fine Gael]] *[[Fianna Fáil]] *[[Socialist Party (Ireland)|Socialist Party]] <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.socialistparty.net/youth/manifesto2.htm |title=A Programme For Socialist Change - SY Manifesto (page two) |publisher=Socialistparty.net |date= |accessdate=6 January 2011}}</ref> ====Netherlands==== *[[GreenLeft]] ====New Zealand==== *[[Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand]] *[[Alliance (New Zealand)]] ====Norway==== *[[Liberal Party of Norway]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.venstre.no/ |title=Venstre - Småbedrifter &#124; Miljø &#124; Velferd &#124; Kunnskap |publisher=Venstre.no |date= |accessdate=6 January 2011}}</ref> *[[Socialist Left Party (Norway)]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sv.no/ |title=Forside - Sosialistisk Venstreparti |language={{no icon}} |publisher=Sv.no |date= |accessdate=6 January 2011}}</ref> ====Portugal==== *[[Bloco de Esquerda]] *[[Partido Socialista (Portugal)|Partido Socialista]] ====Spain==== *[[United Left (Spain)|Izquierda Unida]] *Alternativa Nacionalista Canaria ====United Kingdom==== *The [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] including the former Prime Minister [[Gordon Brown]] *[[Green Party of England and Wales]] *[[Liberal Democrats]] *[[Plaid Cymru]] *[[Scottish National Party]] *[[Vote 16]] *[[Democratic Unionist Party]] *[[Ulster Unionist Party]] *[[Social Democratic and Labour Party|Social Democratic Labour Party]] ====United States==== *[[Americans for a Society Free from Age Restrictions]] (supports full elimination of voting age) *Future Voters of America<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.futurevotersofamerica.org |title=Future Voters of America |publisher=Future Voters of America |date= |accessdate=6 January 2011}}</ref> *[[National Youth Rights Association]] *[[Socialist Party USA]] (to 15) ==Notes== {{Ibid|date=March 2010}} {{reflist}} ==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== <div style="-moz-column-count:2; column-count:2;"> *[[Age of candidacy]] *[[Suffrage]] *[[Demeny voting]] *[[Adultcentrism]] *[[Gerontocracy]] *[[Youth suffrage]] *[[Mature minor doctrine]] </div> == External links == *[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2123.html Field Listing - Suffrage] from the [[CIA World Factbook]] *[http://de.kraetzae.de/wahlrecht/international/ A more complete list of voting ages around the world (in German)] *[http://www.freechild.org/SNAYR/suffrage.htm Youth Suffrage Resources] *[http://www.youthrights.org/votingage.php NYRA's Voting Age Info Dump] {{Suffrage}} {{Law country lists}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Voting Age}} [[Category:Age and society]] [[Category:Electoral restrictions]] [[Category:Youth rights]] [[Category:Lists by country]] [[is:Kosningaaldur]] [[nl:Kiesleeftijd]] [[nn:Stemmerettsalder]] [[simple:Voting age]] [[fi:Luettelo äänioikeusikärajoista]] [[sv:Rösträttsålder]] [[tr:Seçme yaşı]] [[zh:投票年齡]]'