Member of Saeima faction of Progressives Ervins Labanovskis has developed a proposal for amendments to Law on the Election of Local Government Councils. This proposal lists a suggestion to lower the voting age from 18 to 16 years for municipal elections.
Voting at the age of 16 is already adopted in Estonia, Scotland, Wales, parts of Germany and Switzerland. Malta and Austria already have voting at the age of 16 in all elections.
Estonia’s experience in introducing voting from the age of 16 shows that this decision has increased the turnout of young people in elections. In the 2017 Estonian municipal elections, which were the first with a reduction in the voting age, the participation of 16-18-year-olds in the elections was about 6% higher than the average in society.
“For democracy to develop, it has to be not only accessible, but also be actively practised and taught.
In Latvia, participation in democratic processes is low – we see this both in the activities of non-governmental organisations and parties, and in electoral activity, where the level of participation among young people is particularly low. Estonia’s example, where the right to vote in municipal elections has been granted since the age of 16, shows that this is an effective way of involving young people in society. That’s why the Progressives are tabling these amendments. By giving 16 and 17-year-olds the opportunity to vote in local elections, we are not only allowing them to participate more actively in community life, but also providing an incentive for political forces to take into account the needs of young people and to actively engage with them. This step will promote the development of an inclusive political culture based on democratic values in Latvia. Voting from the age of 16 will make it a habit to go to elections regularly, which is necessary for a healthy democratic culture. At the age of 16, young people are able to analyse the political offer, however, they have not yet gone to study outside their place of residence,” stresses the member of Progressives Ervins Labanovskis.
In local governments, the involvement of young people is often limited, limiting themselves to holding public events and conversations, without representing the opinions and interests of young people in municipal policy. Voting from the age of 16 would give local governments more interest in youth policy, as young people will also vote for the council and indirectly form a political offer for young people, according to the proposer.
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