Ken Gargett Posted October 31, 2015 Posted October 31, 2015 wondering what members think of the voting age. in australia it is 18. our opposition leader is looking to reduce that to as low as 16 claiming the average is 17 for established democracies (which is clearly rubbish when one looks at the list below but then when would a politician ever bother with the facts). says if people can drive, join the military and fly planes they should be able to vote - i'd agree with joining the military but not certain that being able to drive should automatically give you a vote. and do we really let people join the military and fly planes at 16 or is this another politician's fact? personally, and perhaps because i am getting older and older, i would be horrified to have 16 year olds out there voting. i suspect that this is merely desperation from our opposition leader, who might not be around to have anyone vote for him soon, but wondering what people think. A[edit]Afghanistan: 18 Albania: 18 Algeria: 18 American Samoa: 18 Andorra: 18 Angola: 18 Anguilla: 18 Antigua and Barbuda: 18 Argentina: 16, 16 to 18 and 70+ optional. Armenia: 18 Aruba:18 Australia: 18 (compulsory for all over 18, voluntary enrolment accepted at 16 & 17 but cannot vote until after turned 18 http://www.aec.gov.au/enrol/) Austria: 16[23] Azerbaijan: 18 B[edit]Bahamas: 18 Bahrain: 20 (Bahraini Cabinet in May 2011 endorsed a draft law lowering eligibility to 18 years)[66] Bangladesh: 18 Barbados: 18 Belarus: 18 Belgium: 18 (compulsory) Belize: 18 Benin: 18 Bermuda: 18 Bhutan: 18 Bolivia: 18, universal and compulsory Bosnia and Herzegovina: 18, 16 if employed Botswana: 18 Brazil: 18 to 70 compulsory, 16 to under 18 AND over 70 optional. Voting is also optional to all illiterate citizens older than 16. British Virgin Islands: 18 Brunei: 18 (village elections only) Bulgaria: 18 Burkina Faso: 18 Burundi: 18C[edit]Cambodia: 18 Cameroon: 21 Canada: 18 Cape Verde: 18 Cayman Islands: 18 Central African Republic: 18 Chad: 18 Chile: 18 China, People's Republic of: 18 Cocos (Keeling) Islands: 18 Colombia: 18 Comoros: 18 Congo, Democratic Republic of the: 18 Congo, Republic of the: 18 Cook Islands: 18 Costa Rica: 18 Côte d'Ivoire: 18 Croatia: 18 Cuba: 16 Curaçao: 18 Cyprus: 18 Czech Republic: 18 D[edit]Denmark: 18 Djibouti: 18 Dominica: 18 Dominican Republic: 18, universal and compulsory; married persons regardless of age (members of the armed forces and national police cannot vote) E[edit]East Timor: 17 Ecuador: 16; universal, compulsory for literate persons ages 18–65, optional for other eligible voters Egypt: 18 El Salvador: 18 Equatorial Guinea: 18 Eritrea: 18 Estonia: 18; 16 for local elections Ethiopia: 17 European Union: 18 F[edit]Falkland Islands: 18 Faroe Islands: 18 Fiji: 18, as of 2013 Constitution (previously 21) Finland: 18 France: 18 French Guiana: 18 French Polynesia: 18 G[edit]Gabon: 18 Gambia: 18 Georgia: 18 Germany: 18Voting age 16 for state elections: Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein. Voting age 16 for municipal elections: Baden-Württemberg, Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Saxony-Anhalt and Schleswig-Holstein.[67] Ghana: 18 Gibraltar: 18; universal, plus other British citizens who have been residents six months or more Greece: 18 Greenland: 18 Grenada: 18 Guadeloupe: 18 Guam: 18; universal; US citizens, but do not vote in US presidential elections Guatemala: 18; universal (active duty members of the armed forces may not vote and are restricted to their barracks on election day) Guernsey: 16[68] Guinea: 18 Guinea-Bissau: 18 Guyana: 18 H[edit]Haiti: 18 Honduras: 18 Hong Kong: direct election 18 years of age; universal for permanent residents living in the territory of Hong Kong for the past seven years; indirect election limited to about 220,000 members of functional constituencies and an 1,200-member election committee drawn from broad regional groupings, municipal organizations, and central government bodies Hungary: 18 I[edit]Iceland: 18 India: 18 Indonesia: 17; universal and married persons regardless of age. except for the military and police Iran: 18 (changed from 15 Years to 18 Years in 2007, but that was changed back in 2009 and changed again to 18 in 2011)[55][69][70][71] Iraq: 18 Ireland: 18 Isle of Man: 16 Israel: 18 (17 for municipal elections) Italy: 18 (25 for Senate elections) J[edit]Jamaica: 18 years Japan: 20 years (Changed to 18 in 2016)[4] Jersey: 16 years Jordan: 18 years K[edit]Kazakhstan: 18 Kenya: 18 Kiribati: 18 Korea, North: 17; members of the military have the right to vote, regardless of age[72] Korea, South: 19 Kosovo: 18 Kuwait: 21; females and males who are not in the military or police forces; all voters must have been citizens for 20 years; current proposal for reduction to 18[73] Kyrgyzstan: 18 L[edit]Laos: 18 Latvia: 18; universal for Latvian citizens Lebanon: 21, tried to amend to 18 on 22 February 2010 but failed to pass.[74] Lesotho: 18 Liberia: 18 Libya: 18 Liechtenstein: 18 Lithuania: 18 Luxembourg: 18 M[edit]Macau: direct election 18 years of age, universal for permanent residents living in Macau for the past seven years; indirect election limited to organizations registered as "corporate voters" (973 are currently registered) and a 300-member Election Committee drawn from broad regional groupings, municipal organizations, and central government bodies Republic of Macedonia: 18 Madagascar: 18 Malawi: 18 Malaysia: 21For Youth Parliament of Malaysia: 15 to 40 Maldives: 18 Mali: 18 Malta: 18, however a motion has been passed in parliament to lower the voting age for local council elections (starting from 2015) to 16 Marshall Islands: 18 Martinique: 18 Mauritania: 18 Mauritius: 18 Mayotte: 18 Mexico: 18 Micronesia, Federated States of: 18 Moldova: 18 Monaco: 18 Mongolia: 18 Montenegro: 18 Montserrat: 18 Morocco: 18 Mozambique: 18 Myanmar (Burma): 18 N[edit]Namibia: 18 Nauru: 20 Nepal: 18 Netherlands: 18 New Caledonia: 18 New Zealand: 18 Nicaragua: 16 Niger: 18 Nigeria: 18 Niue: 18 Norfolk Island: 18 Northern Mariana Islands: 18; universal; indigenous inhabitants are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections Norway: 18; however, persons 17 years of age are permitted to vote in parliamentary elections if they will be 18 years of age in the year the election is held. O[edit]Oman: 21, universal except for members of the military and police.P[edit]Pakistan: 18; universal; joint electorates and reserved parliamentary seats for women and non-Muslims Palau: 18 Panama: 18 Papua New Guinea: 18 Paraguay: 18; universal and compulsory until the age of 75 Peru: 18; universal and compulsory until the age of 70; (members of the military and national police could not vote until a Constitutional Reform in 2005 [75]) Philippines: 18For youth councils: 15 to 18; previously from 15 to 21. Incumbent are allowed to keep their positions if they surpassed the legal age. Pitcairn Islands: 18; universal with three years' residency Poland: 18 Portugal: 18 Puerto Rico: 18; universal; island residents are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections Q[edit]Qatar: 18R[edit]Réunion: 18 Romania: 18 Russia: 18 Rwanda: 18 S[edit]Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha: 18 Saint Kitts and Nevis: 18 Saint Lucia: 18 Saint Pierre and Miquelon: 18 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines: 18 Samoa: 21 San Marino: 18 São Tomé and Príncipe: 18 Saudi Arabia: adult male citizens age 18 or older (for partial municipal council elections and women to be allowed by 2015) Scotland: 16 Senegal: 18 Serbia: 18[76] Seychelles: 18[77] Sierra Leone: 18 Singapore: 21 Sint Maarten: 18 Slovakia: 18 Slovenia: 18 Solomon Islands: 21 Somalia: 18 South Africa: 18 South Sudan: 17 Spain: 18 (The age was lowered down to 16 for Catalonia's 9N Referendum, but that was an exception) Sri Lanka: 18 Sudan: 17 Suriname: 18 Swaziland: 18 Sweden: 18 Switzerland: 18 (16 for cantonal and municipal elections in the canton of Glarus[58][59] [1/26]) Syria: 18 T[edit]Taiwan (Republic of China): 20 (there is a current proposal to lower it to 18)[78] Tajikistan: 18 Tanzania: 18 Thailand: 18 (compulsory only for Thai-Cititzens, who are Thai-Cititzens from Birth on) Togo: 18 Tokelau: 21 Tonga: 21 Trinidad and Tobago: 18 Tunisia: 18 (with some exceptions)[79] Turkey: 18 Turkmenistan: 18 Turks and Caicos Islands: 18 Tuvalu: 18 U[edit]Uganda: 18 Ukraine: 18 United Arab Emirates: none[80] but at least 25 (the minimum age is decided by the ruler of each Emirate and may vary from one Emirate to another)[81] United Kingdom: 18 (16 for the Scottish independence referendum, Scottish Parliament elections and Scottish local government elections.[36] United States: 18; however, in many states, persons 17 years of age are permitted to vote in primary elections if they will be 18 years of age on or before the day of the general election. Uruguay: 18 Uzbekistan: 18[82] V[edit]Vanuatu: 18 Venezuela: 18 Vietnam: 18 Virgin Islands of the United States: 18; universal; island residents are U.S. citizens but do not vote in U.S. presidential elections W[edit]Wallis and Futuna: 18 Western Sahara: none; (residents of Moroccan-controlled Western Sahara participate in Moroccan elections, Age 18) [80] Y[edit]Yemen: 18Z[edit]Zambia: 18 Zimbabwe: 18
Popular Post NSXCIGAR Posted October 31, 2015 Popular Post Posted October 31, 2015 The younger someone is the less likely they are to understand economics and being productive in life and business and the concept of wanting to keep what they've earned. There's a reason voting in the US was originally restricted to property owners. The young are typically more selfish by nature and always want "free" stuff and the lower the voting age is the more votes will be cast for politicians who promise to provide that "free" stuff. Of course, the "free" stuff comes from the pool of goods and services already created and provided by the typically older, more productive members of society. Ah, the joys of democracy and extending the franchise... 5
PointFivePast Posted October 31, 2015 Posted October 31, 2015 Lower than 18?!? I've always thought 21 would be a better age to get voting rights. That's our drinking age here (though I think that could be lowered) and I figure if you can't be trusted with alcohol you can't be trusted with politics. I just can't imagine a 16 year old being able to make an informed decision... I know I wasn't able to at that age!
CaptainQuintero Posted October 31, 2015 Posted October 31, 2015 The younger someone is the less likely they are to understand economics and being productive in life and business and the concept of wanting to keep what they've earned. The young are typically more selfish by nature I need to think deeply on this one!
CaptainQuintero Posted October 31, 2015 Posted October 31, 2015 I like this: "Korea, North: 17; members of the military have the right to vote, regardless of age" I have images of 5 year old kids from the ruling party elite rolling up to the voting booths in full brigadier general attire 1
PointFivePast Posted October 31, 2015 Posted October 31, 2015 I like this: "Korea, North: 17; members of the military have the right to vote, regardless of age" I have images of 5 year old kids from the ruling party elite rolling up to the voting booths in full brigadier general attire Cannot unseen this image now. The scary thing is that it might not be too far off the truth!
drunkbuckeye Posted October 31, 2015 Posted October 31, 2015 Ideally with formal education one can make more informed decisions. then again if you are old enough to enlist in the military and die for your country, then may as well be able to vote
Ken Gargett Posted October 31, 2015 Author Posted October 31, 2015 Ideally with formal education one can make more informed decisions. then again if you are old enough to enlist in the military and die for your country, then may as well be able to vote agree with this but i can't imagine we are taking 16 year olds in the military. i might be wrong.
Colt45 Posted October 31, 2015 Posted October 31, 2015 The younger someone is the less likely they are to understand economics and being productive in life and business and the concept of wanting to keep what they've earned. There's a reason voting in the US was originally restricted to property owners. The young are typically more selfish by nature and always want "free" stuff and the lower the voting age is the more votes will be cast for politicians who promise to provide that "free" stuff. Of course, the "free" stuff comes from the pool of goods and services already created and provided by the typically older, more productive members of society. Ah, the joys of democracy and extending the franchise... Da Comrade. Women shouldn't have the vote. Freed slaves ( aka property ) shouldn't have had the vote. Young people learn from somewhere - often from their older parents. Maintaining the status quo is why we are where we are. The franchise is continually renewed by the same robots year in, year out. 1
NSXCIGAR Posted October 31, 2015 Posted October 31, 2015 I like this: "Korea, North: 17; members of the military have the right to vote, regardless of age" I have images of 5 year old kids from the ruling party elite rolling up to the voting booths in full brigadier general attire Ha, well, I guess it really doesn't matter who votes in N. Korea if there's a single party nominating candidates and according to the AP this happens: A voter may cross off the candidate's name to vote against him, but must do so with a red pen next to the ballot box in sight of electoral officials, or there may be a separate ballot box for 'no' votes. [13] Many North Korean defectors claim such an act of defiance is too risky to attempt.
DWC Posted October 31, 2015 Posted October 31, 2015 Slightly on topic: I never gave too much thought to the voting age, but my big aggravation is that I think one should have to pay taxes to be able to vote. If you don't contribute financially to the society, you should have no say in how it's run. -Dan 2
Ken Gargett Posted October 31, 2015 Author Posted October 31, 2015 Slightly on topic: I never gave too much thought to the voting age, but my big aggravation is that I think one should have to pay taxes to be able to vote. If you don't contribute financially to the society, you should have no say in how it's run. -Dan i can understand that for a municipal council - if you don't pay rates then tough. but for general elections, that would rule out a great number of housewives, for example. a mother at home looking after a family can't vote? good luck getting that passed. older people who have contributed all their lives but are now on small pensions and not paying tax - you really want to cut them out? someone who is unemployed and doing all they possibly can to get a job? out or in? it also disenfranchises the poor. if the richer part of society are the only ones voting - in other words, effectively making the decisions - what are the chances of our elected politicians doing much to assist them? it will make the rich get richer and the poor get poorer divide even more dramatic. and if you start to bring in various exemptions, you'd need so many as to make it worthless.
MrGTO Posted October 31, 2015 Posted October 31, 2015 It seems you Aussies are one of the few who turn out in mass to vote.... I wish the US had a better turn out in the booths. We (US) have pretty much handed out power back to the government by not voting. It's sad really. 1/4ish of our population make decisions for the whole. I don't buy in to the age debate on voting or intelligence. I've met old idiots and young geniuses. 1
MrGTO Posted October 31, 2015 Posted October 31, 2015 i can understand that for a municipal council - if you don't pay rates then tough. but for general elections, that would rule out a great number of housewives, for example. a mother at home looking after a family can't vote? good luck getting that passed. older people who have contributed all their lives but are now on small pensions and not paying tax - you really want to cut them out? someone who is unemployed and doing all they possibly can to get a job? out or in? it also disenfranchises the poor. if the richer part of society are the only ones voting - in other words, effectively making the decisions - what are the chances of our elected politicians doing much to assist them? it will make the rich get richer and the poor get poorer divide even more dramatic. and if you start to bring in various exemptions, you'd need so many as to make it worthless. I agree. Voting in its essence is to make each man no matter his lot in life equal.
jackattack Posted October 31, 2015 Posted October 31, 2015 It's probably the result of some demographic study to increase favorable turnout. There seems to be no depths low enough for politicians seeking power. Politicians and facts? Talk about diametrically apposed. I concur with NXSCIGAR, the youth are much easier to sell the "free" stuff mantra to. That seems to be the way it's playing out over here. Our congress just passed a debt ceiling increase to zoom us past 20 trillion in the red. In the middle of the night no less,(11:30 PM) with little or no fan fare. 20 Trillion, that's a lot of zeros! The "free" stuff brigade marches on.....time will tell where it all leads.
MrGTO Posted October 31, 2015 Posted October 31, 2015 Don't just blame it on the young... I know plenty of middle aged men who have "back problems" that love free stuff. 1
jackattack Posted October 31, 2015 Posted October 31, 2015 Didn't mean to imply any blame on the youth. No offense was intended. Just wanted to illustrate how unscrupulous politicians, in general, manipulate the public to garner influence and power. Not to mention line their pockets. With 20,000 billion in debt, the "gravy train" is well occupied across the spectrum. That is 13 zeros for those counting. Dishonest politicians making promises they can't keep have led to insurmountable debt. I do not think it will end well. Hope I'm wrong....
DoubleshotTimbo Posted October 31, 2015 Posted October 31, 2015 It seems you Aussies are one of the few who turn out in mass to vote.... I wish the US had a better turn out in the booths. We (US) have pretty much handed out power back to the government by not voting. It's sad really. 1/4ish of our population make decisions for the whole. I don't buy in to the age debate on voting or intelligence. I've met old idiots and young geniuses. True but the other 3/4 of our population who turn up to vote only do so to avoid the fine for not voting. Most of those votes are either ill-informed, misinformed or purposely invalidated. Not much to brag about really.
Fosgate Posted October 31, 2015 Posted October 31, 2015 When I was 18 I feel now I did not have the maturity to make a competent decision. What made me mature quickly and consider consequences was when I was 19yrs old, just joined the the Army and filled out my beneficiary in the event of my very possible death in the line of duty as I was then ushered into another room for my photo to be taken under the watchful eye of a drill sergeant screaming, "If you so much as grin I will beat you to death with the camera so your parents can cash in the life insurance you just signed." I quickly looked at politicians and their interests as we were deployed more and more frequently to foreign countries. By the end of my second year I was baffled when the U.S. Govt would allow me to buy and drink alcohol on base in German, once I boarded an American plan I was under age to have a cocktail to calm my nerves over the 24hr trip. Upon arrival I saw how immature my friends were as I often thought "You have no idea what is really outside of your 10x10 mile box do you?" So, I personally feel military service should be a fast track to citizenship and voting rights. If your willing to pick up a rifle for your country and hand over a check written for your life for the govt to endorse I think after about a year in active duty a young man or woman is ahead of their peers a few years. I also feel that a minimum amount of service should be required by all at a certain age. I just don't understand how some people can take a few minutes in this country to really educate themselves on local and national politics that affect them. My brother for instance. He's complaining one day how the small town we grew up in (and he still lives in) is run by a bunch of crooks. I then find out after high school he registered for the selective service but he has never registered to vote. He's 47!!!! I had to hold my poker face long enough to turn away and then go bug eyed and I mouthed "W.T.F." I'm all for my grandfathers opinion that in order to complain you have to vote but good grief. Maybe it's best my brother and others like him never vote.
NSXCIGAR Posted October 31, 2015 Posted October 31, 2015 Don't just blame it on the young... I know plenty of middle aged men who have "back problems" that love free stuff. Indeed, this mentality is by no means limited to youth. I would have to say that at least with youth ignorance and immaturity is mainly to blame while with older folks their morals and character is to blame. The problem of the rationally ignorant voter will always be a fundamental flaw in democracy. The study of this phenomenon is known as "public choice theory" if anyone's interested.
Ken Gargett Posted October 31, 2015 Author Posted October 31, 2015 yes, we have compulsory voting - i must say i have opposed to that. if someone doesn't want to vote, why make them? 1
Scrubber Posted October 31, 2015 Posted October 31, 2015 I'm young (25) and In my opinion there is no circumstances where a 16 year old should be able to vote. Most 16 year olds will simply vote for any lefty politician who promises them free things. I think 18 is a good age although 21 would be better. I also don't agree with compulsory voting as we have here in Australia. So many people have no idea whatsoever about politics, the economy or life in general and simply throw their vote away. Voting should be an informed decision made by people who genuinely want to participate in the democratic process. I guess that's a bit idealistic but it should still be the goal. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
smokeyjoe01 Posted October 31, 2015 Posted October 31, 2015 I was taught in high school that Politicians lie/bend truth for a living & can't be trusted to do what they say once they get what they want. The democratic political system is (in the uk) considered a joke by the majority of the voting population (no more than 50% turnouts) Lowering the voting age won't make any difference (here) in my opinion. If a citizen pays tax then they should have a vote & everyone pays tax! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Ribeye Posted October 31, 2015 Posted October 31, 2015 I agree that in order to vote one should be contributing to society, whether financially or by some other means unless legitimately disabled. A government that robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul.
Fosgate Posted October 31, 2015 Posted October 31, 2015 What bugs me is "Civics" is no longer mandatory and in my home state they just made it optional to teach American History. Their reasoning is they want kids to take all these college prep courses....what about life prep courses?Personal economics courses are no longer require as well. So we have all these young people who have no clue how to budget personal finances, and have no idea how our political system works or watch local politicians. Of course there are older people who are morons too., 1
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