Gulf News

New Zealand to decide on lowering voting age to 16

Move comes after Supreme Court rules on age discrimina­tion

- WELLINGTON

New Zealand lawmakers will take a vote on whether to lower the national voting age from 18 to 16, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said yesterday.

Her announceme­nt came hours after the country’s Supreme Court ruled that not allowing 16- and 17-yearolds to vote amounted to age discrimina­tion. But while Ardern said she personally favours lowering the age, such a change would require a 75 per cent supermajor­ity of lawmakers to agree.

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.

Sanat Singh, co-director of New Zealand’s Make It 16 campaign, said he was absolutely thrilled with the court’s decision.

 ?? AP ?? ■ A vote is cast in Tauranga, New Zealand, during a by-election on April 27, 2018. Picture used for illustrati­on.
AP ■ A vote is cast in Tauranga, New Zealand, during a by-election on April 27, 2018. Picture used for illustrati­on.

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