Proposal to lower voting age to 16

[NaFenn]

Full Story: Abc.net.aooo (those in the loop will get it )

The Government is considering granting the right to vote to 16 and 17-year-olds and permanent residents as part of its move to reform the country's electoral laws.

Voters could also be given more time to enrol after an election is called and the possibility of enrolment on election day has also been floated.

Rules which allow parties to choose how retiring senators are replaced could also be changed.

The proposals have been put forward in the Government's green paper, Strengthening Australia's democracy, which mulls several changes to laws governing elections.

The paper says there are arguments in favour of allowing younger voters and permanent residents the right to vote, including the fact that many teens over 16 are already paying taxes, but it also notes that only very few countries allow those under 18 to vote.

Im all for it - if i was old enough, i would vote in favour

[Iconic]

Its a good idea but I can see a few downsides to it

[NaFenn]

Originally Posted by Brad..

Its a good idea but I can see a few downsides to it

Such as (just interested in seeing the other side of the argument)

[scary_sue99]

I'm against it, just because I find having to go to the voting booths annoying, and I don't keep up to date with polotics so I don't know who is good and bad. I leave it to the people who know what they are doing.

[pulses]

I used to be all for it, but to be honest, I don't think 16 and 17 year old really understand politics on a deeper scale, more like voting on single issues or because how a party is portrayed in the media.

I think maybe voluntarily for 17 year olds and implementing a compulsory civics class/'first time voters' class, something along the lines...

[PINCHY]

I don't see the problem with it being left the way it is, 18 seems good to me.

[Scurry Inertia]

There's been the idea floating around that Labour wants this to happen because their voters are skewed younger.

Alot of 18 year olds don't really care about politics. 16 year olds even less so.

[PINCHY]

Originally Posted by Spaceman

Alot of 18 year olds don't really care about politics. 16 year olds even less so.

Precisely why it should NOT be lowered.

[aussie-boy]

I'm indifferent. I think 1/2 the Australian public are dumbasses anyway who vote based on media sensationalism and pre-election propaganda (like attributing Australia's economic growth and low interest rates to John Howard). I think there are a lot of in touch 16 and 17 yr olds - these are the last 2 years of school when some people are the most educated they will ever be; and there are lots of dumb ones too.

On the whole, Australia has to resolve the age of adulthood issue though. Eg while you can vote and finish school at 18 to start paying taxes, the government refuses to treat you as financially independant until the age of 25.