Voting is underway within the European parliamentary elections — the place a brand new block of voters is heading to the polls in two nations. Germany and Belgium have lowered the voting age from 18 to 16.
MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:
The European Union is holding its parliamentary election this week. The outcomes will assist form the path of the EU for the subsequent 5 years, however there’s one thing completely different this time – 16-year-olds are eligible to vote in Germany and Belgium. These two nations be a part of a rising checklist which have lowered the voting age from 18. To study extra, our colleague A Martínez spoke with Pawel Zerka, with the European Council on Overseas Relations.
A MARTÍNEZ, HOST:
So first off, inform us concerning the choice to decrease the voting age under 18. Why now?
PAWEL ZERKA: So it is sensible, as a result of if you end up 16, you have already got some obligations – so, for instance, should you work, it’s worthwhile to pay taxes – you have already got the appropriate to take some medical choices or to enter a wedding or a civil partnership; then why should not be that accompanied with the appropriate to vote? The second motive which I can see is that European inhabitants is getting older, so there’s a threat that if largely outdated individuals vote in elections, then additionally they select events that defend the priorities consultant for the older inhabitants, whereas the youthful voters don’t get their illustration on the political degree.
And I believe that this poses a sure democratic downside, as a result of really, it is the youthful voters who will stay longer with the implications of the political decisions which can be taken right this moment. And I believe that some individuals with a extra pro-European outlook might need thought that if there may be hazard of Europe transferring more and more in the direction of far-right and anti-European positions, then youthful voters, who are typically extra pro-European, needs to be a simple method to increase the share of votes on the pro-European events.
MARTÍNEZ: OK. How excited are the youngsters, 16- and 17-year-olds, to have the ability to take part on this means? Have you ever heard any response to this reducing of the voting age?
ZERKA: We all know that the younger voters are a lot much less more likely to take part in elections than the older ones – though, 5 years in the past, in European elections, youthful voters have overwhelmed their report of participation, so many individuals hope that additionally this time, they might really show to be extra desirous to vote than is often assumed.
MARTÍNEZ: Now, what distinction do you assume that reducing the voting age might need on the elections? Will there be one thing that we’ll discover?
ZERKA: Symbolically, it is a vital occasion, as a result of it exhibits that youthful individuals and their voice is handled critically, and I imagine that after Germany, and people couple of different nations the place already the voting age is decrease, maybe another nations in Europe would additionally comply with the swimsuit.
MARTÍNEZ: Might it’s about tapping into the vitality of somebody who’s 16 or 17 years outdated? I imply, I can think about that somebody that has wished to vote – they’ll be very energetic, probably, to get on the market and be concerned and take part in dialogue.
ZERKA: Perhaps. Perhaps Europe, which is getting older, is searching for that new vitality that the youthful voters can symbolize, however yeah. I believe that in a means, the reducing of the vote may be an encouragement for these people who find themselves over 18, however nonetheless younger – they might perceive this transfer as a method to present that younger persons are essential, and subsequently, perhaps they themselves would even be extra desirous to exit and vote within the election.
MARTÍNEZ: That’s Pawel Zerka. He is senior coverage fellow on the European Council on Overseas Relations. Thanks very a lot.
ZERKA: Many thanks.
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