NZ electoral review recommends lowering voting age to 16

thats too low of an age to vote.

teenagers dont even have a vote yet in their own homes, and are too susceptible to being manipulated by "free stuff".

The only reason the current government in NZ wants to lower the voting age is due to students in vast numbers support Labour. And its also well known the Labour will go in the trash come this October so they are scrapping the floor looking for supporters. NZ's biggest failure is the current Labour Govt which was caused by Jacinda Ardern who has conveniently stepped down just before the election to avoid the embarrassment that was coming her way.

16 is too early but adding in the fact that Gen Z are the least educated 16 year olds ever and easily manipulated by simple trends this is clearly a political play

yeah, these are people who are susceptible to injuring themselves doing the latest "TikTok challenge".

the intellectual capacity isnt quite there yet at 16.

False and very bad reasoning: "some young people who may not be ready to exercise that right."

There is plenty, plenty of work done of brain development that clearly indicates that the frontal lobe of the brain, where decision making occurs, is not fully developed until the early twenties.

The voting age should, in fact, "follow the science" and raise the voting age to 21 years old.

I'd say the better choice would be to RAISE the age to 25. Voting responsibly is not child's play.

Yet the old and over the hill are still free to vote. As if they are not susceptible to "free stuff", and they won't be long for this world anyway. The young need a stake.

Considering about 14% of over 80s have dementia of some kind, it should help balance things out.

Make sure they finish their homework and chores before skateboarding down the voting booth.

I would lower the age to birth. The reason? New zealanders and most people around the world are given citizenship in their country at birth, not age of adulthood. As such, by denying them the right to vote, they are denying up to a quarter of the population voting rights.

Further, the arguments they say about women voting back in the day are the same argument they use against children voting now (eg they'll just vote the way their husband/parent votes, they don't understand the issues, they need to get back in the kitchen/school and leave the politics to us).

increasing the parliamentary term from the current three years.

This would decrease voter input as the voter would need to wait longer to express his/her views on Parliament, including the "get out" view. While Parliament can get rid of a govt (executive) through a confidence vote, and the govt can call new elections, the people should get an input much sooner too. I would say decrease the term to 2 years or less.

giving all prisoners the right to vote

Do prisoners lose their citizenship upon entering prison? Of course they should be able to vote. Hopefully, it's not losing the right to vote forever as in some countries.

A party must currently gain at least 5% of the party vote, or win an electorate seat, to gain representation in parliament but the review suggests this threshold should be lowered to 3.5%.

The at-large proportional representation seats are only 40, so the natural threshold percentage for entering would be 2.5% (please correct me on the maths). I say just go with the natural threshold—it makes it less complicated and more transparent.

Right wing leader of the ACT Party David Seymour said in a statement ... he was not supportive of them.

All parties who wish to have voters should always support expanding the franchise. I'm sure the parties who were against women suffrage suffered after women were given the vote.

More democracy, please.

Bruce Pennyworth

Today 02:48 pm JST

16 is too early but adding in the fact that Gen Z are the least educated 16 year olds ever and easily manipulated by simple trends this is clearly a political play

Anyone of any age is susceptible to political manipulation. Should we ban people from voting who can't pass a poll test?

Alongfortheride

Today 01:51 pm JST

The only reason the current government in NZ wants to lower the voting age is due to students in vast numbers support Labour

Similar thoughts were actually brought up by politicians in regards to giving blacks the right to vote in the mid 19th century and ensuring such in the 1960s. Same with women in the 1920s. People are not just a demographic. They have their own minds. I know kids who have left leanings. I know other kids who have right leanings.

Raise it to 40 and you’ll start to get into the age where some people begin to develop some wisdom.

Hervé L'Eisa

Today 03:17 pm JST

I'd say the better choice would be to RAISE the age to 25. Voting responsibly is not child's play.

I've never understood why we have a minimum age for CITIZENS to vote, but not a maximum age.

I'd say the better choice would be to RAISE the age to 25. Voting responsibly is not child's play.

So - work full time, pay taxes, raise kids, become police officers, lawyers, doctors, and politicians, fight in wars. All under the age of 25.

But "not responsible" enough to vote?

Laughable position.

Just as laughable as 16-year olds. Did you not get that?

Go try to have a conversation with a few random 16-year olds. Ask them some questions. I dare you.

Only here would someone propose that infants be given the right to vote. What a great community and site.

Peter Neil

June 7 10:31 am JST

Only here would someone propose that infants be given the right to vote. What a great community and site

I say because they are citizens. We could change the citizenship law to where one acquires citizenship at the age of majority (whatever the country deems fit), or we could grant all citizens the right to vote. Would you be in favour of all people named Peter not being able to vote in your country?

As an Indian, I think its "too progressive" in my opinion.

18 is just fine like India

16 is a bit too early.