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The debate on lowering the voting age has become a hot topic over the past two decades. Countries such as Argentina, Austria, Brazil and Scotland, for example, have lowered the voting age to 16. Many others, such as Estonia, Malta and certain German Länder, have lowered the voting age. ‘have been lowered for local elections. Arguing that 16 and 17 year-olds should have the right to vote seems a very reasonable demand. Recent research on adolescent brain development have shown that a 16-year-old has the same cold cognitive abilities as any adult. Teenagers are therefore just as capable of making an informed choice when it comes to voting. Why, then, would it be justified to limit their rights as political citizens solely because of their age?
I don't think many people would disagree with the arguments in favor of giving a 16-year-old the right to vote. But what if we went a step further and abolished the age thresholds for the right to vote altogether? Is it so absurd to argue that a 6-year-old should be allowed to vote?, as David Runciman puts it? What reasons do we have to justify his exclusion? And what reasons do we have for demanding that this right be guaranteed?
Read more :
- Nicolás Brando
- Watch his contribution to #LPF21 on the theme “What if young people could demand new rights?
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