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There are two distinct elements to consider here. The first is a matter of whether younger people are capable and entitled to vote. Second, we must ask ourselves what the effects will be if they do.
Capability? A no-brainer.
Sixteen-year olds can drive, enter into contracts, work in most jobs, be tried as adults, make independent medical decisions and, with parental permission, join the military or get married. There are many statutes in Canadian law that, we suddenly realize, mean that people of that age must be treated equally. So, on that half of the argument, the answer is: “Of course.”
The effects of such a change are more complex.
Participation:
Statistically, adding that age group is not going to change much. In the 18-25 group, about 50% participate in elections, and this gets higher with age. The move would add about 3% of population to the voter’s lists, and if only 50% of the teens vote, that’s not going to swing any elections.
We have data from several countries who have recently made the move. In Austria participation was between two and 10 percentage points higher than first-time voters aged 18 to 20, and voters maintained the habit in future elections. So, starting earlier helps build lifelong voting habits. Every little bit counts.
The Real Problem.
Recent statistics show general voter apathy and declining numbers voting. This is caused by the perception that our votes don’t really count. Which, under the present system, they don’t. And when it comes to system change, there is also a feeling that politicians won’t do anything that doesn’t benefit them directly. Proponents of Proportional Representation have fought this for years. A majority of Canadian voters want to dump the first-past-the-post system, but it will mean a change in the ages-old way of doing things. Both left and right wing major parties have organized their power bids on the old rules, which they set up so they can win and shut the smaller parties out.
Which makes voters feel more disempowered, and around the circle goes.
The Bottom Line
Taken all round like a football, we might as well do the right thing and lower the voting age. It might have a minor effect in re-enfranchising Canadian voters. Who knows, it might start a more conscious effort on the part of voters to make their wishes known. Mabe by the time today’s teenagers are in power, they will have a better attitude.
The voters must take control of our government. We need to get rid of a couple of elements that are hampering the course of democracy right now. First-past-the-post and the lobbying system spring to mind.
Maybe we need a new one-issue political party whose only objective is to give Canada a democracy where the voters have a say in what’s going on.