After top court ruling, govt plans to lower voting age to 16
WELLINGTON: New Zealand’s Supreme Court on Monday ruled that the current voting age of 18 breaches young people’s rights, prompting the government to launch plans to lower the age to 16.
After the ruling, PM Jacinda Ardern quickly unveiled draft legislation lowering the voting age, but warned changes would be difficult to pass and could not be in place before the 2023 general election. Ardern supports the change, but stressed that her vote would be just one in New Zealand’s 120-strong parliament.
“I personally support a decrease in the age, but it is not a matter for me or even the government,” she told reporters in Wellington. “Any change of electoral law of this nature requires 75% of parliamentarians’ support.
“That’s why it’s our view that this is an issue best placed to parliament for everyone to have their say.”
Monday’s Supreme Court ruling marks the conclusion of a two-year case brought by the ‘Make it 16’ group of young campaigners, but only parliament can lower the voting age.
The ruling means parliament is now breaching the human rights of young voters, forcing New Zealand’s legislators to consider a change.
A number of countries are debating whether to lower their voting age. Some that allow people to vote at 16 include Austria, Malta, Brazil, Cuba and Ecuador.
Academics have found lowering the voting age tends to improve political engagement, but the results vary from country to country.
Sanat Singh, co-director of New Zealand’s Make It 16 campaign, said he was absolutely thrilled with the court’s decision.
“It’s a huge day,” he said. “This is historic not only for our campaign, but for the country.” Singh, 18, said existential issues like climate crisis - as well as issues like pandemic recovery and the state of democracy - will most affect young people.
“That’s why I think it’s really important to get all hands on deck to make sure we can have a stronger future,” he said.
Ardern, who leads the liberal
Labour Party, said all lawmakers should have a say on the issue. The liberal Green Party said it supported a change.
“Young people deserve to have a say in the decisions that affect them, both now and in the future,” said Golriz Ghahraman, the party’s electoral reform spokesperson.
But New Zealand’s two main conservative opposition parties said they oppose a change.
“It’s not something we support,” opposition leader Christopher Luxon said. “Ultimately, you’ve got to draw the line somewhere, and we’re comfortable with the line being 18.”
In New Zealand, the protection against age discrimination begins at 16, and the judges ruled that the attorney-general had failed to show why 18 had been chosen as the age to vote rather than 16.