Academics and advocates have urged the government to reduce the voting age in the Australian Capital Territory to 16, saying the move will increase “voting rates” and “will be very positive for our democracy”.
“We hold children criminally responsible and imprison them in Australia from when they’re just 10 years old, yet we do not extend voting rights to young people until they are 18. There is a major discrepancy here,” Faith Gordon, associate professor at the Australian National University College of Law, told SBS News.
Professor Gordon is one of the lead authors of a submission to the government by 30 academics and advocates that strongly supports the Electoral Amendment Bill 2021 being made law in the ACT.
A parliamentary committee is examining the legislation and is due to report back by 3 March, before it is debated by MPs in the territory's parliament.
If passed, the Bill will reduce the mandatory voting age in the ACT from 18 years to 16 years. The draft legislation proposes a maximum fine of what currently amounts to $40 - 0.25 penalty points - for 16-year-olds who do not vote.
“Voting rates in western democracies have been declining in recent years,” Professor Gordon said, adding, “and allowing young people to register at 14 and vote at 16 will be very positive for our democracy”.
“There’s a lot of international evidence to show that lowering the voting age and expanding suffrage to young people can be a really positive thing for democracies,” she said.
Professor Gordon is referring to countries such as Argentina, Cuba, Malta, Austria, Scotland, Bosnia, Brazil, East Timor, Ecuador, Estonia, Greece, Indonesia, Israel and Nicaragua, where the voting age has been reduced to 17 years, or in some cases to 16, in the past few years.
“We kind of lag behind in Australia. Many other countries around the world have already reduced the voting age to 16,” Professor Gordon said.
The minimum age to vote in all Australian states and territories is currently 18 and, Professor Gordon said if the bill is passed in the ACT, the territory could lead the way for other Australian jurisdictions to follow.
The submission outlines reducing the voting age is in line with basic human rights, she said.
“Lowering the voting age to 16 years extends basic citizenship, democratic and human rights to more young people. It gives effect to the ACT Human Rights Act of 2004 by extending the right to vote to more young people.
“This legislation will strengthen the democratic culture of the ACT and boost voter turnout rates now and in the future.
“Reducing the voting age will also better align with the values of fostering an inclusive society by promoting youth participation and acknowledging the right to be heard in all matters affecting their lives.
“If passed, this legislation will demonstrate strong official commitment to youth participation, and strongly support the ACT’s status as a jurisdiction that truly recognises human rights,” she said.
Other submissions to the inquiry, including from the Australia Institute think tank, propose considering voluntary voting for this younger age group either as a transitionary step or on a permanent basis.
