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Articles on Voting age

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There are several moves afoot to lower the voting age from 18 to 16. It’s long overdue. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Why lowering the voting age in Canada is such a good idea

Voting rights in Canada have changed over time to become more inclusive. Challenging age discrimination in Canada’s election system could be the next step in expanding and strengthening our democracy.
Many younger people are politically engaged. We saw this in the recent student-led protests on climate change policy. Dan Peled/AAP

Should Australia lower the voting age to 16? We asked five experts

People under 18 can leave school, get a job, drive a car and pay taxes. Should they be allowed to vote too?
Thousands of high school students across the US walked out of their schools to protest gun violence and to call for changes to gun laws. EPA/Tannen Maury

How lowering the voting age to 16 could save democracy

Lowering the voting age to 16 would bring the age of political responsibility more in line with the age of criminal responsibility and the age of informed consent for medical procedures.
As young Australians approach voting age they need simple, clear and practical instructions about the mechanics of how government works and how to vote. Shutterstock

Schools are not adequately preparing young Australians to participate in our democracy

Results from the latest report into civics and citizenship education show by the time students hit year ten, the majority of them have little knowledge about Australian civics and democracy.
The default position in social and political theory is to disregard children altogether, or to consider them as learner-citizens. AAP/Lucy Hughes Jones

Giving voice to the young: survey shows people want under-18s involved in politics

When children and young people have opportunities for active citizenship, they demonstrate a wide range of ways of contributing to their communities.
Bill Shorten has charged Sam Dastyari to recommend whether the voting age should be lowered to 16 or 17. AAP/Mick Tsikas

Shorten pledges to lower voting age

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten is promising a Labor government would reduce the voting age – at least to 17 and perhaps 16.
Fixating on the voting age won’t fix the system. Shutterstock polling station

We’re not ready to lower the voting age to 16 yet

The case for lowering the voting age to 16 in the UK would appear to have been strengthened by the resonance of young people in the Scottish referendum. But excitement over this issue masks a deeper problem…

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